time of their sickness they should not dare to name in their Hearing that terrible word Death How did the fear of Death keep theâ—e great men in a continual bondage but fear not to go down to the grave Gen. 46. 3 for thy Husband hath gone and sweetened the way because death cannot break this match and after death at Judgment because when the world is on flaming fire our Husband is our Judg at death we go but to our Husband to his Father and our Father Joh. 20. 17 Isai 54. 5. Tollitur mors non né sit sed né obsit 4. This is a great honor to the Saints Psal 149. 9. to be a Kings Spouse Vxor fulget radiis mariti If a woman marry with a Knight she is a Lady if with an Earl she is a Countess if with a King she is a Queen If poor Ruth marry Boaz she is Lady of Bhthlehem-Judah If Esther with Ahashuerus she is a Queen of vast dominions 5. Comfort to us against many Crossâ—s and Afflictions here A wife that hath many crosses yet this bears up her heart I thank God I have a loving and kinde Husband Or if she hath but a bad Husband on Earth yet I have a kinde tender rich Husband in Heaven It 's said of Rubenius Celer when he was dying being asked what Motto he would have on his Grave-stone he answered onely this That I have lived with my Wife fourty three years and eight moneths and to this hour we never once fell out Mr Fox in the Book of Martyrs tells of a godly man who lived at Clarkennel in the days of Queen Mary who was marvelous tender over and loving and kinde to his wife yet she accused him to the Popish Priests whereupon he was apprehended for speaking against Popery in his Family and after he was through Gods mercy deliverâ—d she did a second time accuse him that he would not go to the Mass and that he spoke against the Pope and their Idolatry whereupon he was again apprehended imprisoned This Assizes was a man condemned for poysoning a loving wife in the Stocks in Lollards Tower cruelly used first one arm and leg in the Stocks and then another and his childe whipt to death and after the woman went mad but Christ is a marvelous kinde and tender Husband 6. Fear not want if marryed to Christ the Heir of all Hebr. 1. 3. Psal 23. 1. for with him came all things else Rom. 8. 32. Deus meus omnia The second Vse of Exhortation 1. Entertain no Suitors now thou art marryed no adulterous Vse 2 love cut off right hand foot eye When a woman is Therefore the Husband called the covering of her eyes Gen. 20. 16. Isai 30. 22. marryed she now entertains no more Suitors but quiets her heart in her Husband So say we to all these cursed tempting lusts I am now marryed away begone Ego non sum ego 2. Long for Christ if absent How do Wives long for their Husbands return though poor sinful men so you breathe after Christ in Heaven see the Church Cant. 5. How welcom is he that brings news to a Mariners Wife We espy your Husband coming yonder c. 3. Obey Christ not as a Slave but as a Wife from a principle of love It 's true in Gods eyes quod cor non facit non fit If no love no life But obey Christ as a Wife 1. In one place as well as another 2. From and with the heart Rom. 6. 17. 3. For Conscience sake to Gods Ordinance Say to Satan I am not mine own I will ask my Husband 4. Submit thy minde and will to Christs Judgment and Will Thou thinkest this or that best but he is onely wise take his advice 4. If Christ suffer in any of his servants pity and help them When King Edward was shot with an envenomed Dart his Queen suck'd out the poyson with her mouth when no other way was found to cure him 5. Bless Christ and thank him that would vouchsafe to 1 Sam. 25. 41. See Abigails deep complement sue to or match with thee whom he might have made a firebrand who hadst said him nay often 6. Forsake all for him Rebecca will leave Father Mother all to go to Isaac and Rachel for Jacob leaves Laban and her Countrey c. Gen. 2. 24. The 3. Vse is for triall art thou married to Christ â— Doest thou know him with a tasting experimentall knowledge Phil. 3. 9. she is but a light huswife who will cast her self on any whom she knowes not 2. Doest thou love his person and not his portion onely Doest thou love him for himself 3. Doest thou love him above all others long for him when absent 4. Art thou sorry that thou didst put him off long say him nay so often 5. As Christ bought and paid for thee more then thou art worth so he changeth thee when married Moses married an Ethiopian and she continued her hue when married David bought Sauls daughter and paid more then she was worth she continued surly but Christ changeth those whom he marries new hearts new lives Ezek. 36. 26. Holy Mr. Dod being asked why he preaching to some Gentlewomen that used naked * Tertullian would have called these Pudor ostentatitiae Virginitatis How may the Americans shame us for there the native Indians in New-England since the Gospell came to them have made a Law that every one that goeth with naked breasts shall pay five shillings breasts â—ain dresse c. did noâ— sharply reprove them for it and perswade them to leave them he answered I will first labour to get Christ into their hearts and then they will easily and quickly leave these of themselves 6. If married thou hast lost thy own name so do Virgins when marry and are called after their husband so Paul not I but Christ in me Gal. 2. 20. I go not out in my name in my strength for my ends but as the ancient Martyr said my name ends hopes wayes are all called Christian All those those who are borne again of Christ they 2. Observ are Princes whether they dwell in all the earth in any County City Town or Village so many godly men there so many Princes there Rev. 1. 6. He hath made us Kings and Priests to God and his Father c. Rev. 5. 10. And hath made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reigne on the earth 1 Pet. 2. 9. But ye are a chosen generation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Kingdom of Priests Exo. 19. 6. The righteous are Kings many righteous men saith Matthew c. 13. 17. many Kings have desired c. saith Luke c. 10. 24. There are two things which I would do ere I can clearly apply it 1. Shew you what kind of Princes all the people of God are 2. Wherein their Princeship or Kingship consists 1. Godly men as such are not temporall but spirituall Princes as Christ's so
in all the Earth This is the means whereby thou mayst come to have thy Son a crowned King and thy Daughter a crowned Queen in glory Follow the Gospel with thy prayers into America How do the fields there begin to look white to the Harvest how doth the Kingdom of Heaven begin there by the native Indians to suffer violence God grant the event may never be the taking the Gospel from us where too many seem weary of the Scripture Ordinances Duties c. and loath the Manna to give it to them How doth the Gospels success there rejoyce us especially if they be posterity of the Iews as many affirm that they are 9. The next Use is for Tryal It 's dangerous laying claim to Kingdoms when men have no good Title Our Chronicles * Straw Cade Tiler c. Kings are afraid of times Herod the great put to death 14000 infants as Josephus writes with intent to have killed the King of the Jews and did slay His three sons Alexander Aristobulâ—â—s Antipatoâ— His virtuous wife Mariaâ—â—ne for fear of losing His Kingdom Zec. 14. 20 afford many instances hereof and what it cost them in the end and is it nothing to claim a Kingdom of Heaven without title 1. Art thou spiritually anointed as we have said Psal 105. 15. 1 Joh. 2. 27. Oyl 1. Softens 2. Heals 3. That Oyl wherewith Kings were anointed had a sweet perfume c. So 1. Is thy heart softened doth grace sink as oyl Psa 109. 18. into thy heart or hast thou onely swimming notions in thy head or some outside reformation onely The Soul was first in sinning in converting in resurrection doth grace pierce thither is thy heart sincere in what thou dost A godly man hath an imbred gradual partial unwilling bemoaned hardness of heart which he complains of groans under Isa 63. 17. but not a total wilful unsensible hardness which ruines Zec. 7. 12. 2. Art thou healed in some measure from the raigning and damning power of sin Rom. 7. ult 3. Is thy life more sweet and savory thy speeches practices Is Holiness written upon them 2. Is thy minde princely set upon things above Col. 3 1. like Daniels windows towards Jerusalem It is not for you said Cleopatra to M. Antony to fish for gudgeons but for Castles and Kingdoms Are our mindes altogether set on and drowned in the Earth are we terrigenae fâ—atres inhabitants of the Earth Rev. 12. 12. opposed to the dwellers in Heaven whose names are written in the Earth Jer. 17. 13 and like Domitian follow catching of Flies Sure then we yet are not spiritual Princes for if such our mindes would run upon our Fathâ—r Mother Country House and Brethren above 3. Hast thou got a princely conquest over thy lusts so that they reign not over thee and that as well over that inside and spiritual wickedness which is perhaps minoris infamiae but majoris reatus as well as visible and shameful transgressions which fear or shame may restrain though the root of the matter be still within as unmortified as before A godly man is like Brutus his staff Cujus intus solidum aurum corneo valebatur cortice gold within and horn without or like the Ark gold within goats hair without c. I should have given you more evidences of spiritual Princes and of Gods hidden ones Psal 83. 3. their title to a Kingdom as also more Uses and a third Doctrine yet remains behind But the glass hath over-run me and I have learned from Luther Cum vides attentissime audire populum conclude c. When thou seest thine Hearers saith he most attentive then conclude eo alacriores redibunt so they will return more cheerfully the next time I add no more therefore but only conclude as Cyril doth his preface to his Catechism Meum est docere vestrum auscultare Dei proficere Paul may plant and Apollos water and now the great God give the increase FINIS
ΕΙΚΩΠΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΗ OR The Princes Royal Being the Sum of a SERMON Preached in the Minster at York on the Lords-Day morning in the Assize week March 24. 1650. before the Right Honorable Francis Thorp and Alexander Rigby Esquires Barons of the publique Exchequer and Justices of the Assize for the Northern Circuit the Honorable the Lord Major of York the Right Worshipful Sir John Savil Knight High-Sheriff of York-shire the Right Worshipful Justices of Peace Gentry and others of the City and County of York By JOHN SHAVVE M. A. Sometimes of Christ-Colledg in Cambridge and now Preacher of Gods Word at Kingston upon Hull DAN 7. 27. And the Kingdom and Dominion and the Greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People of the Saints of the most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve and obey him LONDON Printed by John Macock for Nathaniel Brooks and are to be sold at his shop at the Angel in Cornhil 1650. To the Right Honorable William Lenthal Esq Speaker of the PARLIAMENT of the Common-wealth of ENGLAND RIGHT HONORABLE VEry ancient Historians call this our Nation Primogenitam Ecclesiarum the first begotten of all the Churches and tell us that though Christ was preached in some other Nations before this yet that this was the first wherein the Christian Faith was publiquely entertained by Prince and State Omnium Provinciarum prima Britannia publicitus Christi nomen recepit and they add that Lucius King of Britain was the first Christian King in the world and did in the year after Christ 169. send two learned men Elvanus and Medvinus to Eleutherius then Bishop of Rome to receive further instruction in the Christian Faith and for the better Government of this Land Eleutherius returned Answer by two learned men Faganus and a Others call them Fugatius and Dimanus Damianus in these words You require of us the Roman Laws and the Emperors to be sent over to you the Roman Laws and the Emperors we may ever reprove but the Law of God we cannot you have received by Gods Mercy in the Realm of Britain the Law and Faith of Christ you have with you within the Realm both the parts of the Scriptures the Old and New Testament Out of the same by Gods grace with the counsel of your Realm take you a Law and by that Law through Gods sufferance rule you your Kingdom of Britain for a King hath his name of ruling and not of having a Realm you shall be a King while you rule well but if you do otherwise the name of a King shall not remain with you and you shall lose it which God forbid c. And though the Gospel was preached here before then yet not till then were the Temples of Idolatry the twenty eight Flamines and three Arch-Flamines removed and a marvellous great change made throughout Lucius his Dominions Romanorum inaccessa loca Christo fuere subdita After when Gregory sent Augustin the Monk hither who brought over some Truth and much Superstition in the Saxons reign here anno 596. he found the wife of Ethelbert King of Kent viz. Queen Berta and her Chaplain Bishop Luidhard and many others zealous Christians especially in Wales yet some light broke out then and much more in the reign of a childe King Edward 6. and more by a woman Queen Elizab. that God alone might have all the glory and surely God is carrying on the same work still in purging and reforming of his Church shaking Nations that Christ may the more come in And I verily beleeve that no ten Hagg. 2. 7. years since Lucius his time can speak of so great wonders if not miracles wrought for England and wherein the Lord hath more appeared for the good of his People here then since Your Honor hath sate in the Chair of that Honorable Assembly of Englands Parliament God grant that our murmuring which never makes any thing better but provokes a father and brings more rods and lashes on the childe and which God calls Rebellion Numb 16. 41 46. with c. 17. 10. do not either quite overturn us or at least protract eleven days journey into fourty years travel as the Israelites murmuring did Numb 14. 26 30. and cause that many of us shall fall in the Wilderness and never see the good Land Far be from me such thoughts such praise b Adulator Laudator have both the same letters or rather flattery as to think or say that the Grand Assembly whereof You have so long and with such indefatigable pains been the faithful Speaker hath had no faults and errors though I desire rather to weep over them to God then blaze them to men remembering often that story of Gilbert Foliot Bishop of London in H 2. raign Anno Christi 1161. who saith of himself that when he first entered into the Monastery he zealously cryed out against the sluggishness of his Governors afterward being chosen Governor he inveighed against his superiors being chosen Prior he cryed out against the Abbots afterwards being chosen Abbot he excused them and deeply charged the Bishops but being chosen Bishop I began saith he to see how much easier it is to finde faults then when it is our own case to mend them I cannot say of your Honorable Senate what that learned and holy c Who was as Nazian said of Basil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beza who lived 86. years said of himself that his Head never once aked but truly I think a bad Stomack may make a good Head to ake and our sins and murmurings may much further that which we so much complain against Israel sinned and God left David to number the People 2 Sam. 34. 1. and I verily beleeve that our good and wise God that can bring light out of darkness good out of evil and extract medicines out of poysons 2 Cor. 4. 6. hath sometimes brought much good to this Land even out of Your Errors and our Enemies and hath many times a Mercy that Luther much noted and often blessed God for not taken advantage of your and our failings to our destruction but hereby made us more zealous wary and active afterwards O the wisdom and mercy of our gracious God! Of all the Saints in Scripture I finde no one that vented more impatience then Job as Cap. 3. cursing though not God as Satan promised Job 1. 11. 2. 5. yet cursing Job 6. 8 9. 7. 14 15. 10. 18 19. Yet the Holy Ghost Jam. 5. 11. highly commends Jobs patience and lays it down for a pattern never naming one word of his impatience Abraham shewed much unbelief twice thereby denying his wife yet is chronicled for the Father of the * Rom. 4. 11 18 19 20. faithful and one strong in Faith Jehoshaphat joyned friendship with Ahab 2 Chron. 18. 3. went with him to battel against Ramoth Gilead Vers 27 28. and after that he had been
their Kingdom is not of this world 1 Cor. 2. 6 8. True it is that godly men as David c. may be temporall Princes but not Quatenus godly men and Christs seed And we had need to clear this for great temporall Monarchs are very fearfull of any claime to their Kingdomes or medling with their Titles Our Chronicles mention one Burdet a Merchant of London dwelling at the sign of the Crown in Cheapside in the dayes of our King Edward the fourth Anno 1483. who jestingly said to his Son that he would leave him heire to the Crown meaning the sign of the Crowne where he lived for which he was apprehended and within four hours hanged drawne and quartered for so saying Kings love not that men should Pulcheria the vertuous and discreet sister of Theodosius the second seeing her brother the Emperor to signe many writings without reading them caused a writing drawn and tendered wherein he consigned into her hands his wife Eudoxia formerly before Baptisme call'd Athenais a poor woman daughter of Leontig who seeking at the Court for Justice in a private cause took the Emperors affections was baptized and married him Eudoxia said it was too great a game to jest and play upon Diadems though the good Emperor much reformed by it jest with their Crowns how fearfully startled was Herod when he heard tell of some Wisemen asking for one that was borne King of the Jewes Mat. 2. 1 2 3 indeed worse afraid then hurt the Saints are not by vertue of their birth from Christ temporall but spirituall Kings though carnall men mens slander is very common that Gods people rebell and aime only to be temporall Kings Nehem. 6. 6 7. But know that it 's far better to be a spirituall Prince with God then meerly a temporall Prince over men Which will appear 1. Because the greatest Kings on earth have usually more crosses on earth then externall comforts there is a great vanity in the chiefest person and places on earth Psal 62. 9. The world hath now stood above 5000. years and the greater half of this time was spent ere the Jewes had any setled King at last about the year of the world 3761 God gave them a King Saul by name and there were but three Kings that governed and ruled over all the twelve Tribes viz. Saul David and Solomon and one of these viz. Saul came to a violent death slew himselfe though perhaps the Amalekite helped to dispatch him * If so then Saul who had been cruell to David 〈…〉 cruell to him self and he that spared the Amalekites and never prospered after is at last slain by an Amalckite 1 Sam. 15. 14 23. See Lightfâ—â—â— on that place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is onely used it 2 Sam. 1. 9. and signifies both 〈…〉 tremor vel argustre when his coat of male somewhat hidered his own spear from making that speedy end which he desired as the words in the Hebrew may be read 2 Sam. 1. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 After these three Kings deaths the twelve Tribes were divided into two Kingdoms two Tribes clave to Rehoboam Solomons Son and Hâ—â—â— and made up the Kingdom of Judah and ten Tribes to Jâ—â—oboam Solomons Servant and made up the Kingdom of Israel Now after this division which began about the year of the world 2969. untill the captivity of Babylon and destruction of Jerusalem by Neâ—uchaâ—â—â—zzar there were but twenty Kings of Judah and of there eight suffered a violent death and of Israel before their lasting captivity 2 King 17. 6. there were but nineteen Kings whereof not one feared God among them all and of these nine died a violent death besides others imprisoned cruelly used c. In England since the coming in of the Norman William which is usually stiled the Conquest there hath been five and twenty Princes of whom nine came to a violent death and many more of those 109. Kings of Scotland I say it for this â—ad to shew what crosses and calamities do oft times attend great persons and places which cause their troubles to exceed their comforts which made Solomon complain of the vanity of vanities in all conditions Eccl. 1. before him his Father David say that he had seen an end of all perfection Psalm 19. 96. Nay see how somtimes Gods heavy hand goes out against a whole great Family or â—ine thus we find Ahab and Jezabel guilty of blood of godly Nabathe blood see what became of all that race â—nd line Ahab was shot to death by a man that shot at â—venture and timed not at him more then any other 1 King 22. 34. as he went up against Ramoth-Gilcad but it was purposely levelled fore-told and directed by God against Ahab 1 King 21. 19. as Elijah had told the King ere he went up thither so also Micaiah 1 King 22. 28. and Jezabel who was wife mother and daughter to a King even she was slain 2 King 29. 33. King Ahaziah son to Ahab never recovered of hâ—s fall through the Lettice 2 King 1. 2 16 17. then Ahabs other son Jehoram was King of Israel 2 King 3. 1. he goes against Ramoth-Gilead and takes it which his father Ahab could not do and having received some wounds in that service he leaves Jehu one of his Captains Commander in chief over his Army â—t Ramoth-Gilead and goes himself to be cured at Jezreel presently Jehu by Gods appointment 2 King 9. 1 2 3 7 8. c. drawes all the Army against King Jehoram his King his Master and his Master Ahabs son and slew him 2 King 9. 24 25. and that the blood of Naboth which Ahab had a hand in was a maine cause of all this appears because it 's expressed that in the same place where Naboths blood was shed both Ahabs and Iehorams blood was spilt 1 King 21. 19. and 2 King 9. 25 26. and so of Iezabel 2 King 9. 36 37. Athaliab the daughter of Ahab was married to Jehoram King of Judah 2 King 8. 16. 17 18. she was slaine 2 King 11. 16. her husbands bowells fell out 2 Chron. 21 18 19. none prospered that medled with that Line their elder sons were slain or carried captive by the Philistins and Arabians 2 Chron. 21. 17. and 22. 1. Ahaziah King Ahabs grandchild and some think he married againe into that stock 2 Kings 8. 27. he joyned with Jehoram in that war and after to visit him 2 King 8. 28 29. he was slaine 2 King 9. 27. and 42. of Ahaziahs brethren or kindred of Ahabs stock were slaine 2 King 10. 14. and seventy more of Ahabs sons and grand-children by severall wives were slaine 2 King 10. 1 7. so as none remained of that line and family 1 King 21. 21. see the like of Baasha another King of Israel his line 1 King 16. 11. Who hath not read the continued succession of calamities that attended Mary Queen of Scotland mother to the late King James 〈◊〉 her cradle to
her grave Her father King James the fifth died about the time of her birth when she was about six years old she was sent to France in great danger by winds and English ships there was an agreement 'twixt England and Scotland for a match 'twixt our King Edward the sixth and her which breaking on their part occasioned the Lord Protectors march with an English Army to Muscleborough field where much blood was shed and a Scotch Lord being taken prisoner and asked how he liked our wedding with Scotland said he liked the match well but not the woing to fetch a wife with fire and sword In France she was married young to Francis the Dolphin of France who died shortly after of a pain in his ear then was she Omnia fai nihil mihi profuit said Scverus the Emperor when he was dying and almost all the Roman Emperors untill Constantine and very many Popes after him got nothing by all their great advancement for the getting whereof they adventured life and limb and a better thing sed ut citius in tersicerentur as Aâ—ban a wedge to cleave him and garments throw him in great dangers by Sea in her returne back to Scotland where also she found the Scots in Armes she was there married to Henry Lord Darnley son to Matthew Stuart Earle of Lenox by whom she had King Iames her husband was murthered soon after King Iames's birth she was apprehended by the States of Scotland charged with the murther and imprisoned after she escaped out of prison fled to England where she was prisoner first in one place and then another above sixteen years and then beheaded at Fotheringay-Castle in Northamptonshire she desired to be buried in France but was buried at Peterburgh aged six and forty years and yet could not rest in a grave her body was taken up again by King Iames and buried at Westminster Every Crown of Gold is lined with a Crown of Thornes who almost would take up Crowns upon these termes but spirituall Princes their comforts in life death after death exceed their crosses they have that joy that no man can take from them that will support them at the stake in the Dungeon c. 2. There is no Nation where all the Subjects are temporall Princes but all Christs true Subjects in whose hearts their own Spirit which is one of the greatest conquests Prov. 16. 32. and over afflictions Rom. 8. 37. 9. Temporall Princes be not all of one Line no not in the same Kingdome as in England somtimes the Romans ruled here somtimes the Britains then Saxons then Daneâ— then Normans and since the Norman William somtimes his own Race ruled here then the Plantagenets then the Tudors then the Stuarts and of the four and twenty Kings since William the Conquerors death not above seven in England that could pretend legally to succeed their next Predecessors either by lineall or collaterall Title but the Saints are all of one blood borne of the blood of God Ioh. 1. 13. of the same spirit Joh. 3. 5 6 8. 10. Some other Princes were annoynted with externall oyle though it 's generally observed that all the Kings of Israel and Judah were not anointed with oyl though Saul David Solomon and some others were nor were the Kings of Judah anointed with the holy oyl where with the High Priests were anointed and which God commanded to be made Exod. 30. 23. 33. but with common oyl though laid up in the Sanctuary The Scotch Historians say that externall anointing of their Kings never began with them tiâ— Popery got footing there from which they say their Nation was free many years after Christ and kept much purity in Religion and that King Edgar was the first so anointed there Anno 1098. * The French Historians tell much of the holy oyl kept at Reims yet generally acknowledge that the first King of France that was anointed was Pepin and that none of the Merovignion Line were anointed and yet their former Kings were as much and as truly Gods anointed as the later but all the Saints are Gods Anointed Psal 105. 14 15. with a supernaturall and heavenly Oyl of Grace 1 Ioh. 2. 27. The Apostle tells us Hebr. 1. 9. That Christ was anointed with the oyl of gladnesse above his fellows which notes two things 1. That all the Saints are Chriâ—â—s fellows fellow-heirs fellow-sufferers fellow-conquerors c. 2. That they are anointed with the divine graces that Christ is only in their measure for of Christs fulnesse they receive grace for grace Ioh. 1. 16. Psal 133. â— The next thing is to shew you wherein they are Princes for as Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon concerning his brethren Judg. 8. 18. they each one resemble the children of a King and of this briefly 1. They are Princes by birth by the new and second birth born of the royal blood of Jesus Christ Joh. 1. 12 13. 2. They have the vast possessions of Princes * Abraham had little yet he was heir of the whole world Rom. 4 13 as before is proved Luther said that all the vast dominions of the Turk was but a scrap cast to a dog but the Saints dominions are higher larger c. 3. They have the power of Princes As a Prince hast thou power with God said Christ to Jacob Gen. 32. 28. Paul can do all things through Christ Phil. 4. 13. All things are possible to him that beleeveth Mark 9. 23. They have power * Hic homo potuit apud deum quod voluit was said of Luther Saints are the blessings of to a place Isaiah 19 24 with God so as to stop Lions mouths quench fire binde 2 King 2. 8 14 up the Sea nay binde the hands of God Exod. 32. 10. And the Queen of Scots before mentioned said that she more feared the prayers of Mr John Knox then an Army of 20000 men So said Leolin Prince of Wales of another and the Elector of Saxony of the Archbishop of Magdenburgh c. 4. They conquer as mighty Princes Death 1 Cor. 15. 55. and Hell Rom. 8. 1. and afflictions Rom. 8. 37 38. Prince of darkness Eph. 6. 12. their lusts 2 Cor. 10. 4. their hearts Prov. 16. 32. Jam. 4. 7. Rev. 2. 26 27. a greater conquest then Davids over Goliah 5. They are clothed as Princes The Queen in the Psalm was clothed with gold of Ophir yet her best clothing was within Psal 45. 9 13. They have robes that none wear but Princes the perfect merits of Christ upon them They are clothed with the Sun Rev. 12. 1. Christs long white robe Revel 19. 8. and with the sincere garment of grace within them Ezek. 16. 8. to 14. The Scripture calls Christs merits the best robe Luk. 15. 22. none but Princes wear it 6. Fed as Princes not scraps but Childrens bread Angels food fed at the Kings own Table as Mephibosheth They have meat that the world knows not of as Christ
to say Am I for the Plaintiff or Defendant no matter which and when you see the cause naught body more distempers still do appear Hos 7. 1. Thus in Christs Time Scribes Pharisees Herodians in Apostles days in Primitive Times Ebion Cerinthus * Arrius his Heresie was condemned by the Councel of Nice Anno D. 330. Macedonius by the Councel of Constantinople Anno D. 383 Athanasius rose up mightily against Arrius in Constantines days and Basil against Maced in Theodosius days Nestorius was condemned by the Councel of Ephesus an 490 and Eutiches by the Councel of Calcedoâ— Anno 456 When Austin mightily spred the Gospel Pelagius alias Morgan spred His Errors both of them were born on one day Austin in Africk and Pelagius in Wales In our flight from Rome saith Mr Bayly some heretofore stopt too soon as the Lutherans and after them Cranmer Ridley c. who lest too much Popery And others ran too far saith he as Anabaptists and after them Bolton Brown Barrow c. and the Brownists Sure I am if the late Bishops stopt too soon many now adays run as much too far Mos iste in Ecclesia semper viguit ut quo quisque fo et religiosior co promptius novellis adinventionibus contrairet saith Vincent Lirinens Arrius Macedonius Nestorius Eutyches Pelagius in Luthers days many Sects Anabaptism Antinomianism in Calvins Servetus but this is sad that what was owned by all to be profainness twelve years ago as to swear commonly not to pray nor confess sin nor sanctifie Sabbath nor frequent Gods Ordinances to deny the Scriptures c. if a man now do the same things and say he holds an Opinion or it is his Opinion that he may do thus then it should be accounted no profaneness but Religion Cursed Errors draw the best spirits saith holy and learned Mr Hooker of New-England from the heart to the head turn Religion into a Dispute and make it onely a matter of questions and words and eat out in very many the very heart of godliness It was the great grief of holy Mr Burroughs not long before his death that he could not see that practical power of godliness in the professors of these days which he saw in those that dyed immediately before these Times began but that we seem said he to have more light but less life Oh this doth not beseem spiritual Princes of Jesus Christ A forraign Writer three years ago to our shame published Anglia his quatuor annis facta est colluvies lerna omnium Errorum ac Sectarum nulla à condito orbe Provincia tam parvo spatio tot monstrosas Haereses protulit atque haec c. 5. Let this be a Caveat to all persons to take heed they offer Vse 5 no injuries to godly men for they are spiritual Princes You know how dangerous Scandalum magnatum and Crimen laesae Majestatis were accounted to be Take heed how you rail against or affront a godly man for godliness sake truly you kick against the pricks Christ will own it Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Act. 9. These are Gods anointed touch them not at your peril Psal 105. 14. They are the dearly beloved of Gods Soul Jerem. 12. 7. Gods Hephzibah Isai 62. 4. Gods delight is in them These are the Spouse of Christ and Christ will say Will you force the Queen before me as Ahashuerus said of Haman Esth 7. 8. These are the Lords portion take heed what you do to these men c. The sixth Use is for Comfort to all the Saints because they Vse 6 are spiritual Princes 1. Kings and Princes are not usually tryed at an ordinary Court but some special Court for them Truly godly men shall not be tryed 1. At mans Bar not stand to mans day * 1 Cor. 4. 3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When Woodroof the sheriff called Mr Rogers our Protomartyr Heretique that shal be known said Rogers at the day of Judgment who usually rail against them and mock them 3. Nor at the Bar of strict Justice but at the Chancery of free mercy their debts being payd persons covered in Christ and their Husband their Judg. Secondly These Princes have two of the best Kingdoms that we ever heard of the one of Grace the other of Glory that whiles others glory of Corn Wine Oyl Psal 4. 7. and petty Mannors the Saints may say as the King of France commanded his Herauld to cry still King of France King of France so they Heirs of Grace and Glory Thirdly Princes are an honour to the place where they are born and bred So Psal 87. 5 6. Of Sion it shall be said this and that man was born in her So many godly men in a Town so many Princes in a Town It is an honor to Boston in Lincolnshire that learned and holy Mr Fox that wrote the Book of Martyrs was born there to Manchester that heavenly Mr Bradford the Martyr was born there to Dean and Leigh in Lancashire that George Marsh the godly Martyr was born in the first and Jeffrey Hurst in the latter and Mr Robert Bolton at Blackborn in the same County Mr William Perkins at Marston in Warwick-shire Holy Mr Latimer at Thirkesson in Leicestershire Martyr Cranmer at Arselacton in Nottinghamshire Doctor Willet at Ely in Cambridg-shire Mr Whateley at Bambury in Oxfordshire a Many worthy men born in Lancashire Dr Whitaker Mr Nouel Mr Bentley Mr R. Balton Mr Bradford George Maâ—sh Jesfrey Hurst c. In Devonsh re Bishop Juel Dr Reynolds In Northumberland Bishop Ridley Martyr Cumberland Archbishop Grindal Westmoreland Mr Gilpin Buckinghamshire Dr Humphred Shropshire Dr Holland Hampshire Mr Philpot. Kent Mr Ed. Deering Nottinghamshire Archbishop Cranmer both Mr Chappels c. c. 7. In all these hurryings and clatterings of the Times while Vse 7 every one is contending about Kings and Princes at home and abroad such stirs plottings and actings about them and about Government in Church and State let us cry to God that we may be and content our selves to be spiritual Princes to Christ to raign over our lusts and to have the Government of Christ in our hearts Let this be our greatest contention and strife and beg direction from God for them in whose hands is the power of setling external Governors and Government Take heed we be not of those that say in our hearts We will not have Christ to raign over us Luk. 19. 37. Content not our selves that we are related to godly men heavenly Princes John of Valoys was Son Uncle Brother Father to a King yet himself was never King so here 8. Labor what we can the advance and propagation of the Vse 8 Gospels Ministry It 's the means through Gods Mercy to beget Princes to God in every town and place where it comes Follow it to Ireland Wales the Northern Counties c. with your prayers yea into the dark corners of the world that Christ may have Princes