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.
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
seeing he is the Anointed of the Lord. JUlius Caesar being brutishly murthered in the Senate house Marcus Antonius brought forth his bloody Coat to the people of Rome saying behold the bloody Coate of your Emperour who at the sight hereof so Condoled his death that they fell into a furious rage against the murderers so King Charles the first being inhumanely murdered at the Gate of his Palace I am this day to revive the memory and Represent the barbarousnesse of this doleful Tragedy and as it were to hang forth his bloody Robes before your eyes that all your hearts may be stirred up to Godly humiliation for this horrid murther of our sacred Sovereign the breath of our Nostrils the Anointed of the Lord and therein the beheading of three Kingdomes For the Wish of Nero which was That all the Citizens of Rome had but one Neck that so he might kill them all at one blow was fulfilled to and executed by our English Neroes who at once severed the Royal Head of King Charles from his own Body natural and our body Politick leaving England Scotland and Ireland in a bleeding dying condition on that fatall birth-day of Englands misery Jan. 30. 1648. This dreadful dooms-day if I may so call it among all the daies since the creation next to that wherein Christ was crucified were it not vain to curse a day irrevocably past Gen. 1.3 4 5 31. Job 3.3 to 10. and sinfull to curse a day that God hath made doth chiefly deserve to have such Anathema's thundred out against it as Job pronounced upon the day of his Nativity We may affix such a motto unto it as David unto the day of Abners murder Know ye not that a Prince and a great man is faln this day in our Israel 2 Sam. 3.38 Wherefore Pious and Christian is our turning it into an Anniversary Fast that the Nation by solemn and sorrowful lamentation may discharge it self from the guilt and avert the punishment of this Royal blood which was shed in the midst of it That I may contribute something thereunto I have chosen this Text to be the foundation of my ensuing discourse which being so suitabe to the season and occasion may challenge the honour that Solomon gives to a word fitly spoken Prov. 25.11 namely to be like Apples of Gold in pictures of silver These Golden Apples require little paring by explication my chief work will be in the doctrinal and Applicatory parts to cut and quarter them forth unto you for your edification in Loyalty The words are Historical being a part of the Chronicle and Narrative of the persecution of David by Saul the sum whereof is briefly this Heroical David having out of zeal for the weal of his country through his Wisdom prowess the blessing of God crowning his enterprises with successe performed many glorious exploits particularly that famous victory over Goliah the great gyant of Gath Who defied the armies of Israel and of the living God with many more honourable atchievements against the Philistines was Admired and Renouned among the people Inthroned in their affections and applauded with Superlative acclamations yea through the indiscretion of the vulgar 1 Sam. 18.7 above the King himself Saul hath slain his Thousands and David his ten thousands Saul seeing his own glory thus extenuated and eclipsed while Davids shined forth so brightly envieth Davida praise fearâ—ch his person is jealous of his fidelity least by reason of his popularity he should carry on some ambitious designe for his own accession to the Kingdome and therefore pursueth after his life knowing that mortui non mordent thereby to prevent the peoples revolt and Davids heading them So dangerous is honour that it often proves the snare and ruine of the persons dignified therewith Though this act of Saul may seem a necessary piece of state-policy to a Machivilian eye yet certainly to the eye of a Christian it will appear a grosse violation of Piety For David had given many demonstrations of his unfeigned loyalty but never any ground of suspicion of intended Rebellion by abusing his interest in the affections of the Israelites The imitation of Davids integrity by our late popular Absoloms would have been Englands happinesses as their deviation from his footsteps was our misery The persecuted having escaped many ambushes laid for his life at length findeth his perseoutor at a great advantage in a Cave at Engedy but spareth his life cutting off only the Skirt of his garment Thus having taken a survey of the Suburbs of the Text I am now arrived at the words themselves which contain First Davids Cordial contrition for cutting off the Royal Robe of King Saul ver 5. where consider 1. The great degree of his sorrow His heart smote him 2. The slight nature of the Act considered materially for which he mourned It was his cutting off the Robe not the Head of Saul Secondly Davids Loyal Detestation of outting off the Royal head of the Lords Anointed manifested in a succinct and excellent Oration ver 6. wherein may be considered First The occasion thereof which was twofold I. The fit oportunity he had to slay Saul being in a Cave II. The great Importunity wherewith his Souldiers perswaded him thereunto Secondly The Orator He i. e. David said unto his men 1. David a Subject 2. David a General of an Army 3. The Auditours he said unto his men i. e. his Souldiers 4. The Oration it self which may be Analyzed into 4. parts I. A vehement detestation The Lord forbid II. The Act detested That I should do this thing to stretch forth my hand against my Master III. The person detesting this Act that I i. e. David should do this thing IIII. The reasons of his Detestation which are deduced from Sauls Relation First To himself My Master Secondly To God the Lords Anointed 1. I shall begin with Davids Cordial Contrition for cutting off the Royal Robe of Saul And from the greatnesse of his sorrow and the slightnesse of the Act which was the ground thereof compared together Observ Observe That the least disloyal action the smallest injury and slightest indignity committed against and offered unto a King ought by Godly sorrow and true Repentance greatly to be lamented Davids heart smote him because his hand smote Sauls garment Though David being himself surprised with his sudden and unexpected surprisal of Saul in such a place of advantage did through incogitancy and inadvertency not thinking there had been any evil in spoiling the garment seeing he spared the life of Saul And likewise out of zeal for the vindication of his innocency adventure on an Act unbeseeming the Majesty of a King and the Duty of a Subject yet as soon as he recollected his thoughts and considered that not only the persons but the Robes of Princes which are the Ensignes and Badges of authority ought to remain untouched and found his action criminal and himself culpable his heart smote him As
whom Abishai deserves an eminent Character for his Loyalty When Ishbi-benob thought to have slain David he enters into a Combate with him though a Giant a second Goliah and slew him Yea how ready was he to adventure his Life 2 Sa. 21.17 that he might wound the heart of Shime◠because he wounded the good name of his Soveraign The Life of David was so precious in the eyes of all his Subjects that they sware unto him saying 2 Sam. 16.9 Thou shalt no more go forth with us to battel lest thou quench the light of Israel 2 Sa. 21.17 How sharply doth David rebuke Abner for Life-guarding Saul no better As the Lord liveth ye are worthy to dye 1 Sam. 26.15 16. because you have not kept your Master the Lords Anointed He that is not with me is against me saith Christ So he that defendeth not a Prince destroyeth him Christ alledgeth the duty of Subjects to defend their Soveraign as a Principle ingrafted in the hearts of all men If my Kingdom were of this world then would my Subjects fight for me John 18.36 that I should not be delivered into the hands of the Jews Christianity engageth us to lay down our lives for the sake of Christ So Loyalty obligeth us to adventure them for the safety of our King Wherefore how do such degenerate from the nature not only of Christians but also of men who are so impious and so impudent as to attempt the Destruction of Kings for the Preservation of whose Persons they ought to sacrifice their own Bloud That the Murder of a King may appear to be a detestable impiety consider it 1. As Paricide Kings are stiled Nursing Fathers and Queens Nursing Mothers The same Compellation David used to Saul Isa 49.23 1 Sa. 24.11 My Father see the skirt of thy Robe in my hand Not only Natural Oeconomical and Ecclesiastical Fathers but also Political Fathers are included in the Fifth Commandment If Fratricide caused Cain to be a Vagabond and a Fugitive on the Earth and Absalom to be banished out of Jerusalem how great guilt is contracted and how great punishment deserved by Paricide This is such an unnatural Act that the Ancient Romans would enact no Law against it because they thought none would be so barbarous as to commit it It is a complicated sin for hereby a man destroyeth him that begat him that loved and educated him c. So that to kill a King who is Pater Patriae is by Analogy as if a man should cut the throat of his Father that begat him and rip up the bowels of his Mother that conceived him What became of Trayterous Absalom who sought the Life and Kingdom of his Natural and Political Father Was he not deservedly hanged between the boughs of an Oak VVere not Joabs darts fit Chyrurgical Instruments by a just kind of Phlebotomy to let out his unnatural blood 2. Regicide is Sacricide As it is Sacriledge to prophane holy and consecrated things so it is Sacricide to murder the Anointed and Sacred Persons of Kings 3. Regicide is with reverence be it spoken Deicide a kind of God-Murder Methinks now I hear some Melancholy illiterate Sectarian exclaiming against me as the High Priest against Christ Mat. 26.65 This man hath spoken Blasphemy for God is not like man that he should be subject unto death That I may vindicate my Assertion from this hainous Charge know that it is to be understood not Properly but Analogically It is spoken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and must be interpreted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God forbid that I should assert any possibility of Mutation in the Divine Essence which is altogether impassible Our Righteousness cannot profit him nor our Sins hurt him Job 22.2 3. Iob. 35.6 7 8. It was the Heresie of the Anthropomorphites that they ascribed unto God humane Members and an Organical Body because the Scripture attributeth Eyes Ears Hands and Bowels unto him thus they transformed the incorruptible God into an Image made like unto corruptible man Rom. 1.23 Whereas such Speeches do only denote that whatsoever Perfection accreweth unto the body by the use of such Members is in an eminent and infinite degree found in Gods thus Eyes and Ears denote Gods Omniscience Hands his Omnipotence Bowels his infinite Mercy and Compassion Now without bordering on this Heresie the Murdering of supream Magstrates may be called God-murder though not actually and preperly yet interpretatively The Lord accounts it as such The Jews though they murdered only the Body of Christ yet shed the Blood of God Acts 20.28 because there is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Communication of Properties arising from the hypostatical Union between the Divine and Humane Natures of Christ whereby whatsoever doth agree to one Nature may be spoken of the whole Person Christ accounteth the Persecution of his Members Acts 9.4 Heb. 6.6 Mat. 25.45 Luke 10.16 to be a Persecution of himself by reason of the Mystical Union between them In like manner God appropriates the Murder and Contempt of Magistrates unto himself because they receive their Commissions from him stand in his stead represent his Person are called by his Name and are his Deputies and Vicegerents Eph. 4.30 Isa 63.10 Isa 43.24 Amos 2.13 Ezek. 6.9 Ezek. 16.43 1 Sam. 8.7 As the Lord is said to be grieved vexed wearied and made to serve pressed as a Cart with sheaves and broken and fretted with mens Iniquities and Transgressions so to be rejected and despised in the rejection and contempt of Magistrates Saith the Lord to Samuel they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them Affronts offered to Ambassadors redound to the dishonour of the King that sent them David furiously revenged the abuse of his Ambassadors when the Ammonites shaved off their Beards 2 Sam. 10. and cut off their garments in the middle Kings are the extraordinary Ambassadors which the great Jehovah hath sent into the world he will plead their cause and avenge their quarrels against all rebellious Subjects Wherefore let all men refrain from offering violence to Kings lest as Gamaliel spake in another case they be found to fight against God And let us lament this day Acts 5.39 the horrid monstrous barbarous inhumane abominable and detestable Murder of King Charles the First because it was repugnant and contrary to Humanity as it was Homicide to Nature as Paricide to Loyalty as Regicide to Piety as Deicide because it was at once the Murder of a man a King a Father a God Ps 82.6 I have said ye are gods i. e. gods in Office though not in Essence 3. Consider the Person detesting this Act God forbid that I i. e. David should do this thing And Davids heart smote him V. 5. There are many Circumstances relating to the Person of David that do very much amplisie his Loyalty 1. He was Injured 2. Anointed 1. Injured
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
resolved to omit the prosecution of this Point as useless to a People living under such a Gracious Soveraign But considering that the best managed Governments have been from the beginning and will be to the end of the world obnoxious to some Imperfections that there will be alwaies some detracting Absaloms who will calumniate and exclaim against the most righteous Rulers that the prohibition of Rebellion against Tyrannical Governours doth a fortiori conclude for Englands Subjection to our present Gracious Soveraign and lastly that this Crown-Jewel hath been much blemished and sullied of late I was for these Reasons unwilling to leave it altogether unpolished 2. Consider David as Anointed Then Samuel took an horn of Oyl and anointed him in the midst of his Brethren 1. 1 Sa. 16.13 To a Prophetical 2. To a Kingly Office 1. To a Prophetical Office That Clause the Spirit of the Lord came upon him from that day forward 1 Sam. 16.13 denoteth the Gift of Prophesie as appeareth by comparing it with 1 Sam. 19.20 23. Where the like Expression is used to set forth the Gift of Prophesie in Saul and his Messengers when they sought David at Naioth in Ramah Davids Psalmes were endited by a Prophetical Spirit And he is expresly called a Prophet It was usual Acts 2.30 for Prophets as well as Priests to be consecrated unto their Office by Anointing The Lord saith unto Elias 1 Kings 19.16 Elisha the Son of Shaphat shalt thou anoint to be Prophet in thy room Now forasmuch as David a Prophet saith God forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against my Master Observe 1. That Ecclesiastical persons are not priviledged nor exempted from Subjection to the Civil Magistrate 2. That such of all men should be chiefly solicitous to maintain Loyalty in themselves and to propagate it in others 1. That Ecclesiastical Persons are not priviledged nor exempted from Subjection to the Civil Magistrate Let every soul be subject to the higher Power Rom. 13.1 Every soul is emphatically put for every man as Exod. 1.5 All the souls that came out of Jacobs Loyns were seventy souls i. e. seventy persons Is not the Command general Let every soul whether rich or poor Noble or Ignoble Patritian or Plebeian Political or Ecclesiastical be subject to the higher Powers Non distinguendum est ubi Scriptura non distinguit We sind no place of Scripture that doth except the Pope and his Cardinals out of this general Precept except they disclaim humane nature and avouch themselves to be Angels Cherubims or Seraphims as a Popish Postiller out of Exod. 30.31 hath done where it is said of the holy Oyl Upon mans flesh it shall not be poured thou shalt anoint Aaron and his Sons from hence he ridiculously inferreth that Priests are Angels not having humane flesh Aaron the High Priest acknowledged the Jurisdiction of Moses over him when he was reproved for making the Golden Calf Aaron said Ex. 32.22 Let not the Anger of my Lord wax hot King Solomon deposed Abiathar from the Priesthood for conspiring with Adonijah 1 Kings 2.26 35. What Antipodes do the Popes tread hereunto in presuming to depose Kings The Kings of Judah exercised their Authority in spiritualibus as well as in temporalibus Asa Hezekiah Jehosaphat Josiah reformed Religion destroyed the high places 2 Chron. 17. 2 Kings 18. 1 Chron. 13.1 2 3. 2 Chr. 29.4 2 Chron. 29. and Monuments of Idolatry and convocated Synods So Christian Emperors Constantine Theodosius and others have convented General Councils Hezekiah laid injunctions on the Priests and Levites to perform their duties Paul being arraigned before Festus Felix and Agrippa pleadeth not an exemption from the Jurisdiction of their Courts by vertue of his Apostolical Office His free and voluntary Appeal to Cesar argueth his acknowledgment of subjection to earthly Rulers Jesus Christ paied tribute for himself and Peter that he might not incourage the Jews to deny it nor the Romans to defie the Gospel as destructive to Magistracy Mat. 17.27 That Expression then are the Children free doth shew the Prerogative of Christ as he was the Eternal Son of God but not the exemption of Gods adopted Children from secular Powers For then Lay-men also many of them being the children of God must be exempted as well as the Clergy The Reservation of the Lands of the Aegyptian Priests from sale doth shew the Munificence of their King in that he assigned to them a portion at his own Table but their superiority above or coordination unto Civil Magistrates cannot in any wise be concluded from thence Though some munificent Princes out of their Indulgenoe have granted large immunities unto the Church yet let us do as Christ in the case of Divorce reduce Magistracy to its Original and Primitive Institution and we shall find that from the beginning it had Jurisdiction over the Clergy as well as the Laity How is the Arrogance of the Pope of Rome that man of sin and Son of perdition to be condemned for that he exalteth himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 above all that is called god or August i. e. above Kings and Emperots The Papists hold 2 Thes 24. that the Ecclesiastical State is as much more excellent than the Civil as the Sun than the Moon and that as the Moon borroweth its Light from the Sun so the Emperors receive their power from the Pope who employeth the Jesuites his slaughter-slaves to murder those Princes that deny his Supremacy or affront his Greatness Witness the Murder of Henry the 4th King of France by Ravilliack and the Gunpowder-plot contrived by Garnet the Jesuite and others his Complices for the destruction of King James The Popes Affronts unto Excommunications of Incroachments on and imperious Domination over Princes are so notorious that I need not recite Examples thereof Sed exorto Evangelii jubare sagaciores ut spero Princepes ad nutum Romani Orbilii non solvent subligaoula History affords manifold Instances of the Arrogance of Popes how they have trampled on the Necks of Kings kicked off their Crowns and crowned them with their Feet forced them to hold their Stirrups and to dance attendance at their gates excommunicated deposed them Mat. 4. and in imitation of the Devil disposed of their Kingdoms absolved their Subjects from obedience and chained their Ambassadors like Dogs under their Tables How do they herein deviate from the Example of Saint Peter whose Successors they pretend to be and of the holy Prophet David who calleth King Saul his Master That Ministers of all men Observ 2. should chiefly be solicitous to maintain Loyalty in themselves and to propagate it in others David a Prophet preacheth a Sermon of Loyalty to his Souldiers Ministers have great opportunity to expelseditious and instil loyal Principles into the hearts of their Auditors The Reverence that people bear unto their holy Function will facilitate the entertainment of their Instructions The benevolence of Christian
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
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
Permission but also by the Commission of God 2. By the sacred nature of the persons of Kings I understand their separation from the common condition of other men and their designation unto a peculiar office as Aaron and his sons and the vessels of the Sanctuary with all the utensils of the Temple were set apart from a common and consecrated unto an holy use What an horrid abomination would it have been in the Jews to have filled the Golden vessels of the Sanctuary with dirt and what a vile sin was it in Ahaz to cut them in pieces So what an hainous contempt of God is it to destroy the sacred lives or reproach the sacred names of Kings seeing they are the Lords Anointed This was the reason that caused David to detest the murder of Saul to disswade Abishai from it 2 Sam. 1.14 15 16. 2 Sam. 1.7 8 9. and to execute the Amalekite for it notwithstanding he slew him at his own request after he was mortally wounded out of compassion toward him to put an end to his anguish and misery As the Lord avenged the abuse of his Anointed Mediator Psal 2. 1 King 13.4 2 King 2.23 24. Numb 19. Dan. 5.3 4 5 Psal 72.7 8. Dan. 2.21 37. Of his Anointed Prophets Of his Anointed Priests Of the anointed Vessels of his Sanctuary So will he certainly avenge all injuries offered unto his Anointed Kings on the heads of all Traytors Now the Divine Original of the Office of Kings is written with a Sun-beam throughout the Scripture Promotion cometh not from the East nor from the West God is Judge But Rom 13.1 3 3 4. is instur omnium where the Divine institution of Magistracy is no lesse then seven times asserted in six verses Twice in the first Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers for there is no power but of God The Powers that be are ordained of God Again v. 2. Whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the Ordinance of God and shall receive to themselves damnation Thrice more in v. 4 6. The Magistrate is called the Minister of God And v. 5. we are injoyned to be subject not for wrath but for conscience sake Obedience to the Magistrates authority for conscience sake doth suppose it to be bottomed and founded on a divine grant for otherwise it could not oblige the conscience The Apostle inculcated this doctrine on the Romans because there were some turbulent spirits among them who insisted so much on their Christian liberty that they thought subjection to secular powers inconsistent therewith But these Anti-magistratical Libertines are in this Chapter fully confuted and the Authority of Heathen Emperours under whom the Romans to whom Saint Paul wrote this Epistle then lived is clearly evinced to be an emanation from the Almighty God who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Excellently doth Saint Augustine speak to this purpose De Civ Dei li. 5. c. 21. That God who gave the regiment of a Commonwealth to Caius Cesar a mild and gentle Prince gave it also to Marius a bloody Consul He that gave it to Augustus a mirrour of humanity gave it unto Nero a monster of cruelty He that gave it unto Vespatian gave it unto Domitiar He that gave it unto Constantine a Religious defender of Christianity gave it also unto Iulian an Author of Apostasie Jesus Christ the essential wisdom of the Father Pro. 8.15 16. is represented to speak under the name of Wisdom And what doth he speak Why this By me Kings reign and Princes decree justice By me Princes rule even Nobles and all the Iudges of the earth By me i.e. by my Approbation by my Commission by my Protection and by my Direction and benediction Kings reign God was displeased with Israel for asking a King Object 1. Sol. 1 Sam. 8.7 The Lords displeasure against Israel for their request did not arise from his improbation of Monarchical Government but from Israels contempt of Theocratical Government for from the time of Moses untill the daies of Samuel they lived under a Theocrasie God did exert his power in an extraordinary and miraculous manner in raising up Judges to deliver them out of the hands of their enemies but they being grown weak in faith and weary of this immediate dependance on God and trusting too much on an arm of flesh cry out for a King wherewith God is indeed displeased because of their audacious presumption in limiting and prescribing unto him because of the itch and pride of their hearts in desiring to be conformed unto other Nations and because of their despising of God himself â— Sam. 8.7 that he should not reign over them but not by reason of any distaste against the Office of a King which he afterward blessed for the protection of his people Israel Though the Office of Saul Object 2. it being immediatly by God himself conferred on him was Divine and his person therefore sacred yet Kings now wanting this immediate election cannot claim the like Prerogatives The Texts before quoted do sufficiently confute this Objection Sol. to wit Matth. 22.21 Dan. 2.37 Prov. 8.15 16. Rom. 13.1 2. However I shall add these three things 1. That many Kings of Israel whose persons were no lesse sacred then the others were neither extraordinarily elected nor consecrated but took possession of the Kingdom by hereditary succession For all Kings were not anointed but only those in whom the Royal line began or was broken Only the first of a Family was anointed except in the case of dissention where was required a renewed unction 2. Cyrus an Heathen King is called the Lords anointed Isa 45.1 Thus saith the Lord to his Anointed to Cyrus 3. As the Office of Ministers is sacred notwithstanding they want that immediate Call which the Prophets and Apostles had so likewise is the Office of Kings notwithstanding they want such an immediatly divine inauguration as Saul and David had The Donatists Libertines Object 3. Anabaptists and Millenaries have laid the Ax to the very root of civil Magistracy holding that though God allotted Kings and Rulers unto the Jews while the Church was in its infancy minority and nonage yet now such servile subjection doth not beseem that perfection and liberty which the Gospel hath introduced John 8.32 Gal. 5.1 You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free Whereunto shall I liken this generation Sol. They are like unto water in a Pot which boyleth over much runneth into the fire which being quenched therewith the remainder of the water boyleth not at all So these affecting greater wisdom perfection and liberty then is meet became very fools and bondslaves to their lusts Those texts Joh. 8.32 Gal. 5.1 speak of the freedom of Christians from the reign of sin power of the Law and dominion of the devil and the yoke of Jewish ceremonies not of exemption from obedience to the civil Magistrate Christian liberty and civil subjection are not inconsistent Psal 2. but sweetly meet and kisse each other The Psalmist speaking of the times of the Gospel doth not exhort Kings to pull off their Crowns and to lay down their Scepters but only to manage their Government in the fear of God and to do homage unto Christ v. 11 12. Magistracy is as necessary for the preservation of humane society as Air â—ater or any of the four elements for the sustentation of our natural lives And as the Gospel doth not abolish civil Government so neither doth it translate it from men and devolve it on Jesus Christ It was the stumbling block of the Jews that they expected a temporal Kingdom by the coming of the Messiah a manumission out of their bondage to the Romans and a restauration of the Kingdom of Israel unto that primitive glory and splendour wherein it flourished under David and Solomon Let not that Government be affixed to Christ which he himself disclaims John 18.36 My Kingdom is not of this world that is not an earthly Kingdom nor the Administrations thereof conversant about external affairs neither civil nor criminal Not Civil for when a man desired him to divide an inheritance between him and his brother he sharply rebukes him saying Man who made me a Judge or divider between you Luke 12.14 Neither would he intermeddle in criminal matters but refused to pronounce sentence on the woman taken in Adultery John 8.11 The Apostle reprehendeth the Divisions of the Church of Corinth Every one of you saith I am for Paul 2 Cor. 1.12 I am for Apollo I am for Câ—phas and I am of Christ These last sort are blamed because out of an irregular zeal to advance the honour of Christ they decried his Ministers In like manner may the State-divisions of England be reprehended One saith I am for a Commonwealth another I am for a Committee of Safety another I am for a Protector and a fourth sort I am for Christ All these deserve sharp reproof even the Fifth Monarchy assertors also notwithstanding they cry out for Christ because by reason of their rash zeal or rather wild sire they take an inordinate course to advance Christ namely by footing out the civil Magistrate who is a Minister of God for our good Rom. 13.4 How was this desperatly bloodily yea blasphemously but blessed be God successelesly attempted in England by persons that would have entitled Jesus Christ to their murders as if he that did shed his own blood for our sakes delighted in shedding our blood These under a pretence of fighting for King Jesus did indeed fight for King Beelzebub The light of Nature confuteth this Antimagistratical opinion As there is no Nation so barbarous as to acknowledge no God so neither as to acknowledge no Magistrate Many irrational creatures seem by a natural instinct to have the shadow of Government amongst them There is a Master Bee Had Adam continued in innocency superiority and inferiority among mankind would have continued with him Yea there seems to be an order among the very Angels themselves for we read of an Archangel Jude v. 9. 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