which in a Theologicall modesty we can be permitted to declare vnt'ce other there are more politicall which if yee knowe them happy are yee if yee doe them For if a kingdome bee divided against it selfe that kingdome can neuer stand And if yee doe them receaue a word of consolation to your soules all you that are not guilty of this Nation-falling sicknes this kingdome-killing sinne you haue neither taken pension to betray the kingdome nor for reuenge encouraged others to make a faction in the land yee haue not for schisme sake engendred any other religion then that which is the maine orthodoxall of the state sollace your selues you can be no causes of the kingdomes fall But yee say yee haue beene discontented at the present state and that yee feare is diuision you haue sometimes spoken a word against the disorders of the Realme and that is diuision yee seare yee haue said 't were good we had warres is not that diuision too No I beseech yee marke but the emphasis if diuided against it selfe there is a diuision that makes for the good of the whole so the mouthes of Disputants are many times diuided in pursuit of deliberatiue argument for finding out the truth and yet they accord well enough in the vnitie of the same conclusion all at last and such a diuision is like a diuision of notes in musicke it is not diuided against it selfe it makes the sweeter sound Your discontented eies gush out with teares because men keepe not the law this is not to make but marre the diuision of a land your tongue reports vnto the Church some disorders you haue seene but in words of sweetest charity in the abundance of louely desires not in any bitternesse doe yee report the same and so peraduenture yee procure the euill to bee taken away by man or pardon'd by God because yee are so zelous against the sinne in all such estates of causes the division is not against it selfe but for the whole such a kingdome is not diuided against it selfe you desire warres but forraine not ciuill warres and that 's no diuision against it selfe but a firmer vnion of the whole And many other cases there are wherein it is not onely lawfull but most necessary to be diuided for the publicke good and one mans tongue to moue one way and anothers in a second path as the Orbes doe in the Firmament The primun mobile runnes West the next particular Spheares East the lower Planets obliquely take another course yet all tempering sweetly together for the commodity of the whole otherwise if they should run all one may they would hurry the earth and all to peeces and spoyle the naturall growth of all So runnes the King our Primum Mobile in motions all aloft the Nobles as the next Spheares seeme another way the Clergie and Courts of equity like the neerer Planets take a third course but all working sweetly for the commodity of the whole otherwise if all one way the Commons which are terra Reipub would be hurryed all to peeces it would spoile the publique growth of all You know how Lucan describes the ouer-whelming of a Ship dum nimium pugnax while they ranne all to one side topsy-turvy by vnequall poyse they ouer-weigh'd the Ship they must diuide themselues therefore that meane to preserue the Common-wealth that floating Ship but still they must agree in managing such a diuision very circumspectly for the well-fare of the whole If any man hath bin guilty of indiscretion to the contrary let him hereafter temper himselfe in a wiser kind if hee 'll endeauour to make vs sing the 133 Psalme in a pleasanter tune then euer we did before O how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in vnity then shall his presence bee as acceptable to our eyes as Musick it selfe is to our eares O how beautifull is the presence of them that preserue peace among vs Musicke is no musick to be compared with that sweet reciprocall conversation of body and soule of flesh and blood which is most liuely displayed euery houre betweene each other in time of Peace Musicke onely glorifies the eare but this the whole body of a Kingdome doth adorne T is like the precious oyntment on the head which runneth downe to the skirts of all the Kingdome Musicke preserues from Melancholy onely for a while but this for euermore for there the Lord promised his blessing and life for euermore Musicke cannot make a litle town a great City but small and contemptible beginnings haue growne into great Kingdomes by concord whereas mighty Empires by diuision haue bin ouer-turn'd who then not honour those that doe preserue our peace to them the cōfort Yee haue pray'd against diuifion and there 's no signe in that of diuiding a Kingdome against it selfe ye haue hated the Societies of the seditious as the King himselfe commands Prov. 24.21 and that 's no signe of diuiding the Kingdome against it selfe yee haue scorn'd pension allyance reuenge ambition all to preserue the Kingdome in vnity with it selfe you haue preseru'd the vnion of the Kingdome and the vnion of the Kingdome shall preserue you you shall not be guilty of this foule Kingdome-killing sinne But you say there are other destructions of a Kingdome from without 't is true yet I neuer loue to wander from my Text my Text concernes onely dissipations within If a Kingdome be diuided against it selfe that kingdome can neuer stand Wherefore to summe vp all whether Princes be diuided against themselues or Subiects against themselues or Prince and People one against another whether about superioritie or any other pretensiue matter of pleasure profit or reuenge whether the subtilty of any other kingdome instigate or they be the beginners of it themselues whether it arise frō the Clergy and so proceed to the Laitie or from Laitie to Clergy howeuer it bee if it bee absolutely diuided against it selfe it can neuer long subsist for it will turne the Physutian against the Patient Sonne against Father Seruant against Master Flocke against Minister it turnes tongues and pennes hearts and hands swords and speares of one against another makes them betray murther each other behind their backes disgrace the meetings solemnities orders attributes of each other and therefore it can neuer stand a kingdome diuided against it selfe can neuer stand Now to refresh yee with another word of speciall application to the time and so an end To day is this Scripture doubly fulfill'd in all your eares had the Court with them or the Clergy with vs bin absolutely diuided against the Kingdomes good the Kingdome had perisht then the glory of it now yee had bin both destitute of such a King and such a glorious celebration of the day the one well knowne among our selues the other all abroad For as on this day Gowrie and his brother set both vpon the King But GOD gaue the victory determin'd the question sent his seruants to rescue him and
A SERMON PREACHT AT St MARIES IN OXFORD the 5. of August 1624. Concerning the Kingdomes Peace BY IOHN RANDOL B in D of Brasen-nose Colledge Omne quod est tam diu est quamdiù unum est ens enim unum convertuntur T is a Principle in the METAPHYSICKS If their hearts be diuided they shall be found guiltie and then followes destruction HOSEA 10.2 OXFORD Printed by IOHN LICHFIELD and WILLIAM TVRNER 1624. MARKE 3.24 And if a Kingdome be diuided against it selfe that Kingdome cannot stand SChool-controuersies mixt with points of deuotion I sometimes deliuer'd from this place but now a Text that requires the diuinity of a Prince and th' exposition of a Souldier rather then a Schoole Yet-no man scandalize this Text himselfe or mee was not our Sauiour an Oratour vpon 't and if our Sauiour himselfe handle the Common-wealth 't is possible then to be diuinely handled and if diuinely handled it can loose nothing by the handling If a Kingdome bee c. Wherein you may please to obserue a State the Qualitie of such a State and the effects of such qualities the State not of a priuate man but the Compound aggregate State of a publike Kingdome a Kingdome that 's certaine then the Condition the Quality or casuall actions of such a State they are diuisions against themselues and they are vncertaine If a Kingdome be diuided against it selfe If diuided that 's vncertaine Thirdly the Issues and euill events of such diuisions that 's not-standing shall I say nay 't is non-possibility of standing and that 's too-too certaine God knowes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it cannot stand if it be diuided that it cannot To handle the State by it selfe and the casualtie of such a State after that and so conclude with th' effects of all were a pretty playing methode fit for easing of the breath but very vnfit for the serious discussion of the Cause wee must collect the whole A diuided Kingdome cannot stand Had the time bin as royall as the Text I could haue entertain'd yee all but no Yet not like those who professing a glorious magnitude are conversant in most inferiour things for I will open that vnt'ee which euery man will not vnfold Treason against a King as a bloud-guiltie sinne but against a Kingdome as much more as any whole is greater then its part Loe I present vnt'ee the Changes of States desolations of Kingdomes the downfall of the whole full of Intemperance vniustice auarice ambition and whatsoeuer herein almost is worthy to be known I present the causes and th' effects together with the remedies of all not without some more especiall application to the time only be fauourable I pray to this too much extemporary necessitie of the man so farre as the single nature of the Cause will beare you shall haue nothing more nor lesse then the diuision of a Kingdome will afford If a Kingdome be diuided against it selfe that kingdome cannot stand When the Prophet would fore-tell th' expiration of the Iewish reigne he prophecies of dissensions-shall arise The Childe against th' auncient the base against the Honourable Esay 3. chap. 5. ver and it followes in a moment after Cecidit Hierusalem the Kingdome is fallen i' th' 8th ver diuide it and it falls it came to passe Iosephus giues it in three deadly Sects whose chiefes were Simon Iohn and Eleazar By ciuill discord did Carthage fall by the like did old Rome her Empire ruine while their dissention gaue entrance to the Turke the Kingdomes of Hungarie Rhodes and other many States haue felt the torment of this Text what needes any more Interpreters say all 't is a popular argument our Sauiour vseth and too-too wel knowne of all that a diuided kingdome cannot stand If a Kingdome bee diuided against it selfe that Kingdome cannot stand As th' essence of God is one so it behooues all things to be vnite that will subsist in him take the most comely body in this learned Crowne of men and diuide either the spirits or humours of that body one against another and neither beauty nor body can long subsist out of the beauteous fabricke of the World if ye take that excellent correspondence away whereby the Caelestiall Spheares and the inferiour Elements doe louingly agree together the World it selfe can neuer long endure except the heauens heare th' earth and th' earth the heauens and both agree vnto the prouision of the whole the World it selfe can neuer well subsist Hosea 2.21 The demonstrance is as plaine because diuision destroyes the very Forme it selfe as if ye diuide a man there remaines no longer forma hominis but forma cadaveris so if ye diuide a Common-wealth there remaines no longer the forme of a good Common-wealth but the forme of barbarousnesse and folly doth remaine there may result out of such a diuision two armies of souldiers two parties of a faction but meane time the faire proper entire bulke and beauty of a kingdome is destroyed that cannot stand which is the emphasis of the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that kingdome cannot stand Neither were it of much consequence if it destroyed forme alone but it perishes matter together with the forme diuision weakens the strongest publicke State that is diuision calls in the forreine discontents of other Realmes diuision turnes swords of the same mans making one against anothers point diuision destroyes the very end for which a Kingdome was ordain'd For the very prime ordinance of a kingdome was to vnite all vnder one Head one Law one liberty one profit and pleasure of good life that so the vnity being equally interested among all all might with one accord more strongly combine themselues against the auarices ambitions tyrannies of other encroaching men for the World will neuer want Nimrods many Oeconomicall hunters there be that hunt for the prouision of their owne houses and as many Venatores Politici that hunt after other mens Kingdomes and therefore vae si dividatur woe vnto that Kingdome is diuided for the hunter will take it If a Kingdome be diuided against it selfe that Kingdome cannot stand Wherefore be we all vnited as firme as flesh is to the bone cemented all together in loue glewed vnto the publick welfare of the state If any diuisions haue amongst vs bin if any fallacy of selfe-loue if any poison of debate it must be so no more I le open the remedies doe but you make righteous iudgement whether they bee not better then the disease Some haue taken occasion to contriue a diuision vpon meere REVENGE so Coriolanus in Plutarch being exasperated by an vniust condemnation did deriue the warre vpon his owne Countrey So banisht Alcibiades how did he discouer the whole Councell of Athens to th' enemy What a combustion did he make betweene th'Oligarchye and the Commonalty So much revenge will doe and more then so for smaller iniuries though they be no positiue euills but privatiues only as the tenne Tribes against Dauid because he
for if a Kingdome be MISRELIGIOVSLY diuided against it selfe that Kingdome of all others can neuer long stand Will you haue higher then these the Poëts moralize Saturne for chastizing his father Coelum castravit patrem and Iupiter for deposing Saturne and the naturall causes the Stoicks say for deposing Iupiter The substance is Caracalla practised against Severus and Absalom against David and Solomon the sonne against the father or one Princely brother against another This is the highest diuision and the remedy as before to beseech euery soueraigne father hee would not streighten his sonnes too much in loosing them the flower of their age rather resigne some portion of his Kingdome honors or offices before death whereon to exercise the power of his regall skill as Dauid did the whole to Solomon 1 Chron. 23.1 and if he haue moe sonnes then lawfull wiues or kingdomes to possesse then to compose the matter prudently before lest otherwise the kingdome suffer a diuision by it as 't did in Absaloms time one halfe cleauing to the father the other accomplicing with the sonne wherein Absalom was chiefe offendour yet Dauid not altogether without sinne on th' other part those royall branches should consider the thornes that be annext vnto the Crowne O did a Prince apparent know what slauish deadly troubles what perils of poisons what treasons are belonging thereunto what bloudie iudgments what hell it selfe especially if it bee not very rightly his then would hee soone throw downe himselfe his Crowne all to adore such a peece of earth with a most religious kisse as would but vnburthen him of so great a paine as 't was most elegantly aduertis'd by our fourth King Harry to his sonne But heerein aboue all other yee may most iustly say our Kingdome is agreeable to the Text there needes no present rebuke for such ambitious diuision onely a gentle admonition is good against time to come If a kingdome be so CAPITALLY divided against it selfe that kingdome can neuer stand What more Sometimes the diuision ariseth meerely from the harshnesse of a King as when Alexander past ouer himselfe and all his fauours by deed-of-gift into the Persian habite so reprobating the very hopes of all his natiue Macedons at one acte or as when Rehoboam with one proud tyrannicall answer turn'd ten great Tribes into so many traytors at a breath certainely the remedy is for Kings to forbeare such needlesse provocations but Subiects them to beare what if once in seauen generations come Rehoboams course to weare the Crowne yet 't is no warrant for Subiects to play the Traytours because their Soueraigne playes the folly What if once in seauen generations what 's that to vs yet 't is not so nor likely to bee so in our time therefore there needes no reproofe heere neither but howeuer a gentle remembrance is good against time to come If a Kingdome be TYRANNICALLY diuided against it selfe that Kingdome can neuer stand These are provocations within there are instigations without as the Syracusan Oratour taught the Camarins touching their neighbour Athenians that they should beware them because they did wholly apply themselues to worke dissociations and diuisions in other mens Kingdomes ut alios ab alijs dissociarent so I am afraid doe some neighbour-Nations vpon vs as well as others I would to God 't were otherwise and that heerein also we were equall to the Text but there are strong presumptions to the contrary Pompeius Trogus an ancient Historian sayes there is a Kingdome neere vs of an vnquiet minde their weapons dearer then their bloud vnto thē women administer tillage to what they haue already but they seeke abroad for more of an vnquiet minde and seek abroad for more Heere 's presumption enough can there bee two greater incendiaries then Polupragmacy and auarice vnquietnesse of minde and covetousnesse of goods any one of them if it be well followed doctis dolis haue a learned dissimulador for an Agent 't is enough to diuide all the Kingdomes in the World it is what Kingdome is there wherein you shall not finde a Polupragmatist one or other an Antony that will make the warre vpon Octavius be it neuer so vniust alas this Inquietudo naturae 't is but his nature he cannot bee quiet vnlesse he doe diuide and when two such meet together 't is like the meeting of two windes and what doe they make but a whirle-winde and what does the whirle-winde sayes the Philosopher but gather a company of leaues and feathers together and what 's that company but one part of the diuision What speake I of vnquietnes by nature there is an vnsatiable ambition of domineering ouer all What meane those vulgar reports that they can diuide the Commons and the King and so by a tollerable kinde of treason blow vp a Parliament without gun-powder when euer they please What mean those complaints from beyond the Seas that their kingdomes haue bin diuided from them yet all this I know would seeme fabulous to some did not their more then too much audaciousnesse so lately refresh the verity of it whenas in the face of the whole Realme they attempted a diuision between the Kinglie Father and the Princely Sonne what attempt a diuision betweene the Trinity T is only that is greater then this now woe vpon such diuels incarnate such forges such fire-brands such bellowes such very windes of Hell neuer cease coueting of other mens Valtolines O say the Inhabitants if they were once altogether in that Valtoline where they might couet a droppe of English water to coole their tongues then they would surcease still making divisions by their mineralls amongst vs If they were once in that diuision of places among the sulphures and the mineralls from whence there is no redemption where the fire diuides betweene the ioynts the marrow there they should haue diuisiō enough their fill Good ye vnerring Iewry remember these when yee come to fit vpon the twelue Tribes what compound sinners ambitious vniust intemperate vnnameable transgressours censure them deepe enough but can the malignant aspect of Planets blazing starres do nothing i' th' mean time Thou that rulest from the supreamest or be to the center of the earth shall such a kingdome stand as seekes the ruinous diuision of all other Christian kingdomes in the world and that at such a time as they stand in greatest need to combine al against the cōmon aduersary of Christ They would cut all thy seruāts throats they would burne all the professours of thy trueth they would tosse they would teare thy dearest childrens tender limbes on cold hearted iron speares they would crucifie them beyond eternity if they could All these things hast thou seene But when did euer our agents seek to make a diuision in their state or their owne best authors legitimate their making of it in ours Stratagems in time of warre sollicitations to rebell then peraduenture lawfull in some case but when in peace in time of league wast euer heard
afforded Iuda all the honour of attendance at repossession to his Crowne and did not send as honourable a summons to invite them of Israel also therefore in fiercenesse they arose pleaded proportion number valour abuse of all and a great diuision a great rebellion did they cause 2 Sam. 19. and 20 chap. So much a litle distaste a priuatiue dishonour can produce and the remedy is whether they be iustly or vniustly punisht Superiours Inferiours to intreate all Superiours their authority I intreat to distribute their face and lawfull fauour as proportionably as they can Giue tenne Tribes the respect of ten two that belongs to two giue fiue hundred Counties the honour of fiue hundred to the lesse number the lesse fauour doth pertaine 'T is lawfull peradventure to fauour these not those where both doe equally deserue but 't is not expedient so to doe For a litle distaste a great diuision may arise Achitophell will diuert and many a Politician moe vnlesse they be imployed on th' other the neglected inferiour people I entreate to arme themselues with patience considering the honour of it for it argues them nobly sufficient of themselues if they can liue without the fauour aswel as the fauour without them but basely necessitous if they stand in need of it the profit likewise for what are faces and fauours of Potentate men but as the face of the Sunne which many times dryes and withers extracts more out of herbs then euer it did infuse into them and I haue euer thought the men of Israel were mad vnto the highest degree in quarrelling who should carry the baggage after Dauid as if they had not trouble and taxe enough beside let this perswade all neglected Counties and Incorporations suffer Potentates with their fauours bestow them how they please it should neuer cause a diuision among wise men 't is liberty and profit to be without them many times But you say there are no such and God be thanked for it I am very glad to heare the State of our own Kingdome doth so well agree with the State of the Kingdome in the Text for this Text is no positiue inferring against the present state but a gentle referring of the caution to euery mans conscience for time to come If a Kingdome be vindictiuely diuided against it selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and if it be diuided it can neuer stand What if a positiue dishonour the revenge appeares more iust but the remedy is the same Inferiours superiours to bee detreated all these to inflict such gentle punishments as either may not exasperate great spirits to desire revenge or els such mighty mortall stroakes as may vtterly dis-enable them from all power to execute the same for men of vindictiue nature are hard to be restrain'd this was Gowries pretence revenge stop therefore beginnings for if euer any Gowrie diuide there will neuer want Alexanders and Logans Bowers and Sprotts to take his part Those on the other to consider how much deceiu'd they are propound revenge they doe and why Melle dulcior est 't is sweeter then the hony-combe vnto their soules that 's the old pretext but 't is an Heathen one amicè amicis inimicè inimicis I find it only in Aristotle and among the Iewes but otherwise with CHRIST Loue your very enemies alas 't is Satans instigation not their owne If 't be vniust vnto the death it selfe yet hee that 's so most doing now shall suffer most in th' end 'T is a pleasant damnation to be reveng'd d' ee say Yes so it is to others but not vnto your selues others indeed delight the combat to see you reciprocally pined and wasted perish'd with each others blowes but you your selues what pleasure can you take in being made the very fable the disease and slaues of other men Quid tibi dulcedo si non conceditur uti Quid tibi si non tibi There 's no such crime as is a studied sinne there 's no such study to the head nor paine vnto the heart as is the torment of revenge 'T is honourable to suffer despise but to seeke revenge that 's a weaknesse of not being able to endure and that with preiudice to a whole Common-wealth 't is Arch-diuelishly inhumane I know heerein also yee 'll say our Kingdome and the Text agree and GOD be thanked for it there needes no positiue reproofe but howeuer a suppositiue admonition is good against time to come If a Kingdome bee vindictiuely diuided against it selfe you know what followes si modo diuidatur If euer it be diuided it can neuer stand Others in the LVCRATIVE kind haue taken paines to generate a faction for money sake Philip the father of Alexander besieges Olynthus could not take it by force but he corrupts Euthicrates the chiefe Gouernour by money and so he roceiues the Countrey betrayed into his hand so much conetisme can doe and the remedy as before to entreat all that such corrumpues may neuer be imployed either in embassie abroad or in office at home whereby they shal haue any power of selling their State-Intelligence for a pension their Kingdome for a golden pound Those of the suspected on the other to consider the basenesse of the sinne what a thrice-odious earthlinesse it is to sell a potent rich Kingdome for a litle red earth What the Kingdome why 't were much to sell the virginity of one maiden if she were a pure devoted good creature but in betraying a Kingdome the doctrine of Religion the propagation of Lawes the orders of Cities the Arts of Vniuersities the Institution of youth the beauty maidenhead of Humanity Diuinity and all they sell for a litle handfull of red earth which when they obtaine their second generation shall neuer carry it to their graue nor they themselues be euer buried without an Epitaph of the basest kinde Vendidit hic auro patriam heere lyes the notorious corrumpue that sold his whole Countrey to fill his own chest or that of Saint Bernard Viluit huic populi salus prae auro Hispaniae in his 3d Booke de consid ad Eugenium What cares he when he is dead no nor the Diuell neither but GOD will make them both care when he hath them together in Hell-fire Yet ye say there are no such neither and who is not glad to heare the State of our owne Kingdome doth so well parallell with the Kingdome i' ch' Text for this is no peremptory reproofe of any present State but a louing aduertisement against time to come If a Kingdome be LVCRATIVELY diuided against it selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such a King dome cannot stand 't is nothing to our owne there 's the Emphasis at that Kingd me not our owne that Kingdome cannot stand Others by being ALLYED to forraine Nations haue beene inclinable to diuide as in the Sicilian warre the Chalcidians said they were aunciently allyed to Athens and therefore reason would they should partake with them against their owne
speake thou that ruind'st Iehoiakim for not keeping his faith with an heathen king i th 2. of K. 24. chap and when thou speakst reuenge thy selfe not vs thy deare Apostolicall truth thou that hast numbred hatred and variance strifes and sedition i th' 5th to the Galat. among such operations as shall neuer inherit euerlasting life thou that hatest six things and accountest the seauenth a very abomination to thy soule Prov. 6.16 a prowd looke a lying tongue bloudy hands swift feet from Indies to Indies and that soweth discord among brethren are they not all in them for when they are amongst vs they take season and they sowe and they sowe discord and that which is the most abstract abomination of all they sowe discord among brethren among naturall among spirituall brethren nay betweene the subiect the king betweene father and sonne they sowe it If Scripture moue not what saies their owne Secunda 2 ae in his 37th question that is at discord sinnes but that introduceth discord is a greater sinner and therefore the greater damnation he shall receaue But returne to Scripture againe and S. Paul did induce discord betweene the Sadduces and the Pharisees Acts 23. but returne to exposition againe and their owne authors shall condemne them for Aquinas forecited saies and Caietan vpon Aquinas saies and Lorinus the man whom they all reuerence saies that S. Paul did not purposely intend it but accidentally procure it to be done or if purposely yet 't was an euill hereticall concord not a good correspondency the Apostle did diuide or if a good concord he did diuide yet he did it by true allegations not by false or if by false allegations yet 't was with open profession of distast not vnder colour of goodwill whereas they doe it of studied purpose to diuide the best concord and that by most diuelish false detractions and that vnder profession of peace and league they doe it there 's the height but where 's the remedy vnlesse as before to entreat others Highnesse lownes all Those that they suffer no such nation whosoeuer it be to hold any farther knowledge or correspondency in our kingdome then they can take by force of armes 't was the counsell of Don Bernardino to Philip Prince of Castile these that they giue no farther credit to their accusations against one or other then God himselfe did when the Diuell accused Iob ad mutuam diffidentiam inducere faith Thucidides there 's nothing strengthens the enimy more then for people to distrust each other nothing strengthens a people more then to distrust the enimy therefore beleeue them no farther then the Philistines did Achish 1 Samuel 29.3 Where they still cryed out What doe the Hebrews here amongst vs So long as they are enimies there 's no other pleading but quid hic Hebraei Why not we as wise in our generations as they in theirs Imò quid hic Romani What doe our mortall enimies the Romans here amongst vs If they 'll depart wee 'll accompany them to the shoare that was euer the wisdome of the ancient least by communication of language they should corrupt the people sayes the historian per commercium linguae if not depart yet bridle them from speaking into the common peoples eares as Eliakim besought Rabsekah 2 K. 18 to estrange his language least the people should revolt If none of these but that they will remaine and will make diuision amongst vs let euery plot haue his counter-plot as the Plataans serued the Lacedemonians let them haue diuision for diuision let their bowels be diuided in the midst nec lex est aequior vlla or if that too seuere yet let their tongues be diuided in the midst the affinity of the punishment doth so aptly resemble the sinne neuer would nation more be guilty of such crime as whose mocking punishment should bee so wittily the accuser of it selfe Something must be done and the safest is to keepe them out with iron hailestones grandine ferreo as that Queene of heauen did after 88 Neuer kingdome so wel stated but discontents would arise through naughty administration of Iustice partialities in choice of officers one way or other if people refraine their appetites yet alwaies not a Prince if a Prince refraine his passions yet alwaies not a people 'T is to be noted saith Bernardino in this matter of malecontents that they are to be found in all kingdomes Prouinces and the very Courts of Princes themselues yee may finde men to worke vpon It being annext to humane nature that men are neuer satisfied no not with the gouerments which our Lord God himselfe ordaines no maruell then if they be discontented with the rules of more ordinary kings such is the corruption of vniuersall nature euery one to imagine he could gouerne better then the man whosoeuer hee bee that is in place These are the humours to bee wrought vpon Say they so Therefore something of necessity must be done shall I say Nay therefore many things are done by men of potentate place the Firebrands are remoued the prouoking cause is taken away all that were giuen to incense division are now restrain'd there needs no positiue reproofe for herein also are we equall to the Text yet a cautelous admonition is good against time to come If a kingdome doe admit such stirrers of diuisions to reside among them that kingdome neuer long can stand Howsoeuer our owne present care must bee that wee our selues belong not to the number of those that will by any meanes be prouoked to such a sinne 'T is all th'aduersary desires in any state to finde such matter to worke vpon 't is their open profession to fish in troubled waters If you 'l be tinder they 'll be Fire If you 'l be Waues thei 'l be quickly Winds If you 'l be discontented thei 'l quickly seduce yee to diuide If you 'l float thei 'l quickly contriue yee to their owne side Wherefore I beseech yee receaue a gentle persuasiue remedie for this disease also what doe's the vnfortunately necessitous conceaue That his case is desperate Or what the prodigall waster of his substance that he cannot satisfie by making payment of the debt What then Can hee therefore satisfie by making a diuision in the land Will one sinne expiate another No more then one punishment will ease another better therefore hee fall into the Creditours hands alone then into the diuells too where he shall be sure to pay the vtmost farthing for both yet neuer shall come forth Or what th' ambitious male-content That hee is not officed according to his worth What then that 's anothers default 't is none of his but if hee make a diuision vpon it then the sinne is his owne and then hee may quickly be officed according to his worth Are vnworthies promoted Stomacke it he may declare it seasonably to presidents of state he may but make a diuision for it among the multitude that he may not 't were a
gracefull meetings whatsoeuer they be no such Acts of Parliament no such Commencements i' ch' Vniuersitie no such festiualls of country pompe no such solemne celebrations at the Court no such assemblies of scarlet at the market no such glorious congregations of Diuines at Churches as now adaies there are Bring in a diuision yee set sonne against father seruant against master the vassall against the king himselfe what irreuerent gestures vnseemly words sawere actions Alexander flies into the kings royall face grasps him by the tender soft throat thrusts two or three of his homeliest reprobate fingers into the Kings sweet eloquent mouth to stop the passage that hee might neither call on God nor man for succour So and no otherwise will your inferiours serue you all euery strong handed baser fellowe will kicke yee and teare yee and trample yee all the good report yee haue into vtter reproach if euer yee introduce a diuision into the state no beauty of body no good friendship of mind no good report abroad no contentment at home no true felicity of any kinde can yee secure vnto your selues if euer ye bring a diuision into the land whose heart then is not fill'd with holy indignation against such as are the authors of diuision that one illfauor'd fellow should vndoe so many rare comely beauties one base newter vndoe so many true loyall hearts What take away the forme beautie of our kingdom frō vs 't is all one as if they should confuse the order of the stats or take the spring from our the glorie of the yeare for shame of dishonour then doe not a diuision breed if a kingdome bee diuided against it selse it can neuer stand long in the excellency of its former glory that it cannot and then as good it neuer stood at all If a kingdome be diuided against it selfe that kingdom can neuer stand in any good fashion as it ought to doe If I should open the DISPROFITS of it how it embaseth and impouerisheth the whole common-wealth traffickes of wine trafficks of rarer merchandise it is diuision sets the greater impost on them dealings in Cartle tradings in cloath it is division sets the greater price vpon them it is diuision many times that makes the price of corne to rise It is diuision of cōpetitours that makes the Landlord state his farmage at so high a rate T is diuision makes Gold and Iewells to be exported into other lands 't is diuision makes each man betray his neighbour into the enimies hands to the Pyrat to the robber the murtherer what not And I wonder the authors of it doe not foresee that it will be ith'end as preiudiciall to themselues as others for the ruine of particulars will proue the ruine of the vniuersall in the end and a wise Counsellour did long agoe aduertise the Sicilian state Besides other dangers which are possible enough for whom will you call in to decide the cause if a diuision should arise I will only enforme yee what I haue read touching Philip King of Macedon reputed a man of clemencie yet when euer he was called in to be a Iudge of differences in any kingdome hee did alwaies not Venire but supervenire saies the Text ad iudicium tanquam ad bellum he came vpon them alwaies with an Armie ready furnisht and I beseech you marke the euent for so he devour'd the Empire from them both 't is i th' 8th booke of Iustin Sic vtrunque regno spoliauit And are there now none as greedy after other mens kingdomes as euer Philip was I would it were not too well knowne that those which are the right male Catolici indeed doe acknowledge another Catholike king in temporalls to be aboue our Soueraigne as well as the Pope in Spiritualls to be aboue our Archbishop and is not this dangerous Who knowes not how constant Flanders was to the kingdome of France till a great misleader perswaded thē there was another King of France beside Philip then presently they reuolted from him and to speake all the Grecian Prouinces were in an vproare for want of expression to their joy and thought they had accusation enough against the Apostles whē they found them teaching there was another King beside Caesar Act. 17.7 and for certaine it had beene a dangerous doctrine if of a temporall King as yee 'll take them teaching it of a temporall King that there is another Soueraigne beside our Caesar wherefore be not miscarried to their bed of sleepe yee knowe the disprofit yee knowe the danger of it suppose the enemy were approaching to the walls the Citty arme themselues the valiant men of warre marching forward with greater fury then the rest encounter the enimy at the gates and now they charge and then looke backe againe and now they fight and then againe looke backe for feare their greatest enimies bee behinde them a diuision of their own yet still they make good the wall vntil the heat of skirmish be began thē the mistery of discord also begins to worke and here a Captaine flags and there another falsifies his fire and one man shoots the enimy another shoots his fellow Cittizen that is next vnto him thus the diuision workes and then to handy stroakes they come amongst themselues the throat that 's next him then each bloudy blade bereaues him of his life then their glittering swords are sheathed into each others guts the hewing Axe and wounding Petronell set bloud for bloud abroach no matter though the enimie doe preuaile saith the dissentious man yet howsoeuer this villaine my neighbour shall neuer liue to triumph ouer me againe and downe he beates him to the ground thus each butchers other while the enimie is glad to enter on so rich a spoile and thus a Citty and thus a kingdome is too too often lost whereas if they were vnanimous among themselues the enimy might sacrifice his powder to the empty ayre and feed vpon the sound thereof insteed of richer spoiles Alas saith Solomon The children of mine own mother mine owne mothers children haue fought against me no marvell if I fall If thus you stand affected against each other Alas the frustrate enterprises of our former Queene Alas the fayling hopes of peaceable men the too much deceaued expectation of vs all for I see you fighting weeping bleeding dying standing wet-shoo'd vp to the very ankles in each others bloud and more fearefully then so 't is deepe blood 't is very dreadfull goarebloud I see if so I say if so For I delight not these heauy descriptions I had rather diuine happy things vnt'ee yet weigh well the danger that 's the best preuenting way knowe yee not that the furious Diuell walks his rounds the whole world is his family at hand and becke non infans vnius diei imo non infans vnius Dei not an infant of a day old but he labours to make it child of wrath and of diuision as well as others Tu potes vnanimes
see the fire that neuer goes forth parching their tongues with burning thirst and foule coale-blacke sprights tearing their flesh with red-hot iron instruments of vengeance for their sinne iust as they did offer to pull and teare the visage of the King O the intollerable painfull punishment they doe endurel euery houre a new addition to their old hell doe yee not he are them cry sometimes if yee listen well about the dead time of the night for certain it may well be some of that company It any of thē did depart this world vnrepented of so great a sinne And still they say oh that they might haue a little ease if it were but a very litle ease if but neuer so litle peace with those infernall fiends they would willingly returne to their former paine againe about an houre after with all their hearts no they were full of diuision and bloud and vengeance and all tormentiue imaginations while they were aliue and therefore it is but iustice now that the full vialls of Gods vengeance should bee powred out vpon them Beware ye spirits of sedition that yee come not to this burning lake doe not effect those out-landish fashions of ambition and reuenge T is not your characters of Magicke can secure you from the paines of hell no nor from stroake of execution neither if ye deserue the blow diuision of any kingdome is a deadly sinne but the greater if your owne and in your owne the greatest is against the King seauen times hotter shall be your hell if hee were reprobate yet your God on earth but being regenerate he partakes the bloud-royall of IESVS CHRIST himselfe for him yee must fight as on this day loyall Ramsay did for him giue thankes for him pray Come I beseech you and let vs binde our selues againe by faith and Sacrament vnto him by prayers wee 'll be his thundring Army and if need require those your faire learned hands shall be his Praetorian band faithfull to the death with whom can yee be in charity if not with him you desired the preheminence should bee taken from your sister and bestowed vpon your selues it was so a new reformation by Parliament ye did desire to that his Maiesty did consent you desired the forgiuenesse of old debts it was so that excessiue bands of Vsury might be released to that also he did consent one while you desired there might be peace in your owne dayes and it was so another-while warre and to that also he did consent one while to be stewards of your owne lands and moneyes it was so another-while commanders of your owne waters thereto also he did consent Now what can he doe more for his Vineyard that he hath not done euen that also shal be perfited in after-time Wherefore long may he rule ouer vs and neuer too long may we obey his prosperous raigne and liuing in vnitie one with another Let the world grow olds but neuer this Kingdome know what diuision meanes If yee agree no hostile power shall vnarme yee if diuide euery small enemie shall take your kingdome from ye giue me your speares giue me strong cords and I will breake them before your faces if yee diuide them but keepe them vnited and Sampson himselfe shall not doe the deed The time commands mee take only S. Bernard with ye I haue done Ante mihi contingat mori quam audire in vobis aliquem iustè clamantem fily matris meae pugnaverunt contra me Let me die ere euer I heare any man iustly complaining amongst ye that the sonnes of his owne mother haue fought against him Yee are all children of the same Kingdome of the same Congregation all and all brothers to each other neither is any man so like himselfe in all things as yee are all in some things like to one another Loue therefore but within your selues nothing without yee shall euer be preiudiciall vnt'ee the 29 Serm on the Canticles O thou heauenly concord that dwellest aboue the Orbes descend into the hearts of such as heare me this day or giue them concord or else thou blottest me out of the booke of life or giue them concord or else thou wilt diuide mee or giue them concord or else wee all shall die Heare vs good Lord and answere vs according to the multitude of thy mercies for IESVS CHRISTS sake to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory now and euermore AMEN FINIS