people blesse them when they were dead their memories were more enbalmed then their bodies and they were shrined more in the hearts of their people then in their Sepulchres their names were honoured and their ashes were pretious their wisdome left so many Charters of infranchisements and liberties that such Princely Donours could not be forgotten After-ages still cry to them and weep at the thought of them saying these were the Princes which set up Monuments before their departure and wrote out their own Epitaphs in the brests of their people with a pen of never-dying fame Oh how were their Kingdomes then Triumphal Arches and Theaters of wonder their people smiled in one anothers faces their whole land was a Banqueting-house they had the table of Alcinous and the talents of Pelops amongst them their own Nation vvas in a trance for their felicity and all Nations admired their flourishing State Oh honour to such prudent Governours ecchoes of praise and veneration to such wise Princes So then the darling of people the glee of Nations is an expert and judicious Ruler the man of understanding and knowledge But by a man of understanding and knowledge But how should a Prince be a Man of understanding how a Man of knowledge He must be a Man of understanding in heavenly things and he must be a Man of knowledge in temporal things First he must be a Man of Vnderstanding in Heavenly things For what hath a Prince more to look after then Religion Is not the Scripture the Volume which he must be continually perusing yes When the King shall sit upon the Throne of his Kingdom then this Law shall be written out for him by the Priests and he shall read therein and it shall be with him that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and to keep all the Words of this Law and the Ordinances for to do them Deut. xvii 18,19 A miserable thing it is when a King doth become neglective of his God and makes Religion but a meer formality and superfluiâ—y Prophane to this Day is Hâ—stilius for saying he could not indure to be much addicted to ceremonies and sacrifices and Chaeâ—ps King of Aegypt who locked up all Temples that there might be no Prayers nor Oblations Is there any King in Scripture mentioned with Honour who was not religious no there the Glorious Prince is the Pious Prince As a King is next unto God so he should maintain most familiarity with him as he doth take his Crown out of God's Hand so he should wear it for his Glory as he is the Lord 's Anointed so his conscience should be most sâ—ppled with his fear and service If Religion were lost in the whole Nation the King's breast should be the Treasury where it should be preserved Princes I confess may have their Royalty Superiority must have some pomp attending upon it a Prince was never ordained to be an Anchâ—rite but their chiefest Majesty should be to Glorify their Maker A Prince is never more mighty then when he is Bowing in a Temple nor more Glorious then when he is sacrificing at the Altar nor more Triumphant then when he is highest in his Spiritual solemnities the hearing all his Judges and Honourable Counsellours is not like to the lending his ears to his Prophets and Messengers which speak out of the mouth of God Let the Throne then be Burnished with Piety let thaâ— carry a sulgâ—ur through the whole Kingdom let the Sun shine and let all the Stars participate of his Brightness Oh! it is a rare thing to see the Baslick Vein run with the best Blood and the sweetest Fruit to hang upon the top-Brarch A King which is true to his God is the man of understanding But how should a Prince declare himselfe to be a man of Understanding concerning Heavenly things First in preserving a pure Faith For if Kings ought to be Nursing Fathers to the Church Es xlvii 22. then what ought they to cherish more in their Nation then the sâ—ncere Faith How memorable was that of Asah he that commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their Fathers and to do according to the Law and the Commandment 2 Chron. xiiii 4. And of Jehosaphat that he walked in the first ways of his Father David and sought not Baalim but sought the Lord God of his Fathers and walked in his Commandments and not according to the trade of Israel 2 Chron. xvii 3,4 And of Josiah that he stood by the Pillar and made a Covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord to keep his Commandments Testimonies and Statutes and that he caused all that were in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it 2 Chron xxiiii 31,32 Constantine the great Justinian the great Theodosius the first Justin the first Marcian Valentinian how have they for this eternised their names How ought every good Prince to be as carefull of Religion as his Crown-land and of the purity of the Faith as his Royal Prerogative for with what joy can he Reign if Sathan doth set up his Throne in his Kingdom how can he look up to Heaven with comfort if his God be blasphemed Shall God promote him and shall not he promote the Gospel Shall God preserve him and shall not he preserve the Truth Yes it is the Obligation of his high Office the homage that he oweth to his Lord in chief God for this hath made him his Deputy God for this hath given him a Crown If he be a Shepheard he must take heed that the Wolf doth not break into his Flock if he be a Physician he must beware that this Gangren doth not Spread He is never surer of God's target then when he doth protect sound Doctrin nor hath a greater confidence in his people then when they are knit to him in Religion To what end is his Scepter if Seducers and False-Teachers may have liberty to vent their wares and have a free Mart in his Nation No the pure God and the pure Angels the holy Scriptures and the holy Church the Blood of Christ and the Blood of Martyrs his own Peace and Honour Oath and account do require otherwise at his hands Religion then is high and Flourisheth in the Nation when a King beholdeth the Cross sâ—anding above his Crown and doth make Religion his main charge Secondly in preserving pure Worship For God is as strict about his service as about his belief Worship is oftentimes the trial of Faith noâ— onely the true God must be acknowledged but the Golden Calves or Groves must be avoyded yea God is angry not onely with gross Idolatry as in pleading for Baal offering the seed to Mâ—lech weeping for Tamâ—z or in having the Star of Râ—mpham seâ—… but with a little leven in worship a little strange Fire For whereas adoration is Recognitio dominii Aquin. the recognition or acknowledgment of God's Deity and Dominion God will not be doubled with in a thing that is so high so nigh so
mine adversaries and be avenged of mine enemies Es 1.24 for hath God enabled men to serve him and do these turn their own Masters is it not fit for such insolent servants to be humbled Illa est pâ—…na justissima ut amittat unusquisque quod bene uti noâ—…it Aug. Iuste puniuntur qui licitis abutuntur Hugo yes That is the equallest punishment that they should lose that which they will not use well Or they are justly punished which abuse lawfull things A people of obedience have their Tutelar Numen to preserve them but can a Land of transgression be a Land of security no a Land of trouble and anguish Es 30.6 a Land of destruction Es 49.19 God will fan in the gate of that Land Jer. 15.7 leave that people upon their Land Ezech. 32.4 all the mirth of the Land is gone Es 24.11 yea an end is come upon all the corners of the Land Ezec. 7.2 Sinners beat out their own chains or hew out their own gibbets a peoples calamity doth come from their own impiety the Land doth suffer by the Transgression of the Land And how can it be otherwise when they cast away their Target lose their Antidote turn the Law into an Accuser and Conscience into a Fury make the Flesh their Ensign-bearer and corrupt Nature their Champion defie Scripture and brave upon the Pulpite contradict their own convictions wrastle with their own conflicts make Filth no shame and Vengeance no horrour which delight in corruption seek misery love to be unworthy and strive to be unhappy Patronize Sinners and hate Saints reject all motions of grace and entertain all opportunities to wickednesse listen to carnal allurements stop their Ears against Soul-smiting warnings snuffe at dangers and kick against the just God Now is it possible that these men should run through the Pikes and not be wounded Fall down from such precipices not crush their bones shall not these beasts of prey at last be slayed and these Mutineers shot to death yes your iniquities at last will stiffle your own breath and your sins suck your own blood Evil will hunt the evil doer The Land will smart for her own transgression for For the transgression of the Land c. Applicat This sheweth that the sinner is on the fore'hand with God Almighty the sinner doth give the first blow make the first thrust begin the quarrell set up the standard Before God doth strike how many indignities hath he endured how many grievances hath he been vexed with Virg. 1. Aeneid longa est injuria longae ambages There is a long track of injurious courses infinite windings of provocations which we have past through pudet haec opprobria nobis Et dici potuisse non potuisse reselli Ovid. 1. Metam God can read a large indictment against us where the crimes charged against us are so manifest that there is no reply to be made Sin is so apparent that it is a wonder as Cato said to a vaunting Souldier whether men doe more undervalue virtue or the honour of their own lives Virtutem an vitam vilipendas Plu. in Pelopida Quis optimus tui dissimillimus Plut. in Apopth Many are so notoriously wicked that if they aske for a good man they must seek for one most unlike themselves as Agis the younger said to one desperately profane who would needs be propounding questions concerning true virtuous men We have little cause to wonder why this Land hath been the Stage of judgements for how many transgressions have we had which have brought in the Actours we have sinned till our hands did call for stroakes till we did add rebellion to our sin till God was weary with repenting He endured till there was no remedy 2 Ch. 36.10 till he could no longer forbear for the evil of our doings Jer. 44.22 How injurious were we before be waxed ireful how execrable before he became implacable Is God prone to be severe no his bowells are soft his heart-strings are tender and at last his Iustice is without Fury his wrath without passion Oh what an urging people then have we been that have stirred up a patient God to lay heavy hand upon us can we justifie our selves no then our impudence were as much to be blamed as our impiety God hath a large Catalogue of distastes and disgusts irritations exasperations plaints and complaints to bring against us We have been the miserable of the earth yet we cannot say but that as his mercy is infinite so his vengeance hath been just People feel but the stings of their own incorrigiblenesse a Land suffers for her own transgression For the transgression of a Land Secondly here we may see that sin hath judgement following her at the heels If there be transgression look for no truce no breach of Articles raise up a professed enemy Behold the eyes of the Lord are upon the sinfull Kingdome to destroy it from the face of the earth Amos 9.8 The sinners in Sion shall be afraid Isa 33.14 Our Fathers have sinned and are not Lam. 5.7 and Sons Fathers will at last be buried in the same grave The Lord will not acquit the wicked Nah. 3. He hath sworn by the excellency of Iacob that he will never forget any of their works Am. 8.7 Ye then that do try masteries with God by your sins shall find by your broken bones what it is to grapple with such an adversary Constitit Alcides stupefactus robore tanto Luc. Phars Hercules himself might dread such an Army If ye contend with God where will you leave your glory Isa 10.3 Sin at last will be buried in her own ruines A wicked Nation is a Conspiratour against her own welfare it doth undermine her own State and dig Mines to blow up her own greatnesse Take away the prop of obedience and the house will soon fall put out the Candle of holiness and there will be a dark room fight against the Scriptures and ye will have a thousand curses pluck ye by the throat send a challenge to heaven and ye will have an host of Angels draw upon you It is a hard thing for any Leonem radere Plato to shave a Lion to provoke the all confounding God Dares Entellum provocas Virgil. 5. Aeneid doth Dares vie puissance with the great Entellus Do ye provoke me to wrath and not your selves to confusion VVho ever resisted the Lord and prospered hast thou an arm like God or canst thou thunder with a voyce like him Job 40.4 Qui Deum evigilare in judicio facit velocem ultorem inveniet Aug. He that doth cause God to awaken in Iudgement will find him a swift avenger God will strike surely he will strike but once They which fly about the Candle of Gods Lawes will soon have their wings burnt they which swallow poyson will swell to death they which plow wickednesse Hos 10.13 it is easy to know
Abihu's death there had like to have been another Funeral for Moses was even ready to have executed severe Judgment upon Eleazer and Ithamar for not eating the Goat the Sin-offering where God had commanded and for not bringing the Blood into the Holy-place and Aaron though he pleaded hard and Moses connived at the Trespass yet by Divines it is concluded that Moses was too Humane in the relaxation Some Judicious Expositours think there was too much natural infirmity in Aaron and too much condescension in Moses to pass by the aberration It is left as no precedent for them that sin pervicaciously It is a dangerous thing to innovate any thing in Church-rites That which is Apostolical is Apophthegmatical and ought to be taken up as Valueable and immutable If the Church be Built upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles then I can Pronounce nothings well grounselled which do want their Fundamental Institution A Foreign Church may have something that pertains to the building but I doubt there is something defective therefore I must say as it is in Caâ—… viii 9. If she be a Wall we will build upon her a silver Palace and if she be a Door we will keep her in with boards of Cedar but 'till I finde in her a Wall and a Door I can bestow no great cost upon her to enrich her or adorn her Miriam may have breath in her but if she be stricken with a sore Leprosy she is half-dead whiles she liveth Sic ego sentio si alii non consintant unusquisque abundet sensu suo I do not say but that there are rare parts and singular endowments there but I cannot call any thing perfect without a just calling I am not certain whether thâ—…e can be right Baptism lawfull Preaching a due Administration of the Lord's Supper without a true Priesthood I fear it much and I have just grounds for my jealousie I like her Profession well I would I could like her Polity aswell that I might say with the Apostle I rejoyce beholding your order together with your stedfast Faith Col. 11.5 Privileges Principles an accurate Wit Fancies of men confederacy with them that seem holy will not do all no the law is strict God is a Jealous God a little Leaven may corrupt the whole lump he that is unjust in a little hath his disparagement there can be no exactness without a general Perfection Loth's Wife was turned into a pillar of Salt for the cast of an Ey Moses was debarred entrance into the Land of Canaan for striking the Rock when he should but have spoke to the Rock The High-places were enough for a grievance Oh! if we feared the opening of the Books or the appearance before the white Throne we would leave palliating and descanting and conform to the Rule Yea cry out To the law To the testimony for Every plant which my Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up Therefore if the Foreign Church can shew her Consanguinity of Government from the Blood of the Apostles I shall acknowledg the kindred but otherwise my heart may shake rather then I can shake Hands with her I may piety her but I cannot embrace her I may pray for her but cannot magnify her I cannot pronounce her sound but onely send her to the Physician and she must be cured by the right Party I cannot allow her a College of Physicians to consult with for then she may spend all her mony upon Physicians but her Bloody issue will never depart from her till she hath touched the hem of Christ's garment In the state she is in I have no Vindication for her let other Advocates if they will justify her but I have thus much charity to wish her to repent and reform and if counsel do not prevail my bowels shall yearn for her but my toung cannot say to her All-hayl But for the forreign Church sick or sound we will leave her to her self and to her medicinal Artists about her which warrant her good constitution for our selves let us praise God for our health and seek to preserve it Let us assure our selves that there is nothing more requisite in a visible Church then a just government without this there is neither peace beauty order or purity of the Ordinances If every calling of the Nation ought to be justifiable how much more the Ministery Else a man shall suspect every Church Duty which he doth communicate in and be afraid whom to acknowledg as a true Messenger from God Almighty A great matter to sanctify a Nation is a sanctified Ministery I mean a sanctified Function for all Sanctification is but sorcery in respect of the external conveyance of it which doth not flow from a right Spring-head The wind I know bloweth where it listeth and I have nothing to do with the secret motions of God's spirit but for a publique assurance right Ordination is the best confirmation yea the most Orthodox ratification Away with Topical reasonings give me a Demonstrative argument that which is Apostolical to men is Characterical Jannes and Jambres had an art of inchantment Prophets that cause the people to err and bite them with their teeth can cry A Vision though it be a lying divination False Apostles can transform themselves into Angels of light The star called Wormwood hath a brightness in it The beast that came out of the earth had two horns like 〈…〉 There is no trusting to appearances and pretences the high satisfaction must be a justifiable undoubted commission Oh! that the King's Daughter who is to have her rayment of Needle-work should wear any thing about her that is not True-stitch that the Temple should be overlaid with any thing but pure gold What is comfortable in any Church where the Squinancy is in the throat where the Sermon-Bell is riven where there is a suspicious supposititious Ministery a lawfull Heir a lawfull Spouse a lawfull Officer are not more necessary then a lawfull Ministery Was God angry with them which went and were not sent and will not fury arise in his face against unauthorised Messengers Men must be put apart and separated for this Calling Rom. 1.1 and be allowed of God which are put in trust with the Gospel 1 Thes 2.4 And be Ordained Preachers 1 Tim. 2.7 Are the Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven to be put into all hands is every one to be a Steward in God's Family no Unto me is this Grace given to Preach the unsearchable Riches of Christ 3 Ephes 8. How else is the Gospel a Mistery or this Function an Ordinance The sons of Scaeva met with claws and were rent to purpose because they would be dealing with that which they had no Authourity to meddle with And do these scratches terrify none though the Devils be quiet for a while are not their Talons to be feared in another World Is the Gospel a Feast and may every one invite Guests no Wisdom hath her Maidens to send
shaken their hands well from that which hinders them from inflicting condign punishment What uproars and Gallio care not for them Should these Foxes rest every night in their Burroughs and not be digged out Oh! seeing Judges are the King's Eyes whereby he should spy out Offences and his Lips whereby he should speak to the Land and his Hands whereby he should chastise Transgressours A King had need to arise in a Princely indignation and dash these Eyes buffet these Lips and cramp these Hands I read Alexand. ab Alex lib. 3. c. 5. that Darius crucified Sandaces for not executing Judgement and Valerius Max. lib. 6. cap. 4. that Cambyses flayed Sisannes for pronouncing false Judgement and that a Saxon King hung up Judges by the scores for neglecting Judgment If some Judges had been so served what a fatal Doom would there have been Oh! how many corrupt Humours do there abound because this good Physick is not administred Because sentence against an evil-doer is not executed speedily therefore the hearts of the children of men are fully set to do evil Ecc. 8.11 Are Judges in the King's stead then why do they not measure out Justice the Kings without Partiality or Corruption A wise King scattereth the wicked causeth the Wheel to turn over them Prov. 20.26 If the Judges will not be so honest as to turn the Wheel the King should be so wise as to make them wheel out of their places or to cause them to suffer that wheel that others should have endured Pity it is that a Vertuous Prince and his whole Kingdom should be put upon the hazard of ruine because of wicked men's Impunity Is he freed of sin himself and will his Judges make him a partaker of other men's sins Are not these faithful trusty Judges The King therefore to free his Person Conscience and Nation had need to take strict care that the edge of his Justice may be felt in Malefactour's sides and this is a a part of his Knowledg Fourthly In advancing the Welfare of the Nation For the Kingdom is his Mansion and will not every one beautifie his own Mansion It is his Spouse and will not every one deck his own Spouse When the Righteous are in Authority the People rejoyce Prov. 29.2 A Righteous King makes a joyous People his love maketh every Heart-string leap and his Knowledg doth send Mirth into the farthest part of the Nation he is so exact in Government that far and nigh they finde the blessing of his prudent managing of Affairs for he doth not study so much his own Greatness as the Greatness of his People not to make himself high as his Land happy That as in Asah's days it is said they built and prospered 2 Chron. 14.7 and in Hezekiah's dayes it is said that God blessed the people and there was abundance 2 Chron. 31.10 so in a good Princes days there is nothing but plenty and prosperity to be seen for he doth not as Isocrates saith Isoc in Helena impose labours upon the people and enjoy delights himself but he would have his people have reciprocal Pleasures with him he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Homer saith of Atreus Homer Il. 2. a a man that hath a divided Mind to take care of every particular man's welfare he doth account Government to be rem populi non suaÌ„ The People's business not his own Platina as good Adrian was wont to say Whatsoever a rent-Scate he doth come to he doth desire to be stiled with Justinian Sigon lib. 20. Imper. Occident Veteris gloriae Instaurator eximius The famous Restorer of the antient Glory He would have all Arts to flourish and Callings to prosper the Waggons to trace the Land and the Ships to furrow the Seas he Granaries to be filled the Ware-houses to be furnished the Magazines to be stored that people might talk of nothing but Free-Trade and vast Gains heaping up Silver as Dust and Gold as the Stones of the street As a roaring Lion and an hungry Bear so is a wicked Ruler over the People Prov. 28. â—5 â—ut as Fostering Father and a Nursing Mother so is a good Ruler over the People for since this Prince came into the Land what Felicity hath entred with him Since he mounted the Throne how have we mounted to admiration We had nothing but Wants and Wasts Penury and Scarcity but now our Prosperity is risen like the Flood we build our Nests in the Stars for see our Plenty behold our abundance Who ever thought to have seen such Happy days Who could have expected such a Return of Blessings Our Phoenix is arisen out of her Ashes our wasted Countrey is become again like Eden The Garden of God Oh praised be God! Oh honoured be the Prince So that a Land might be in-lai'd with Riches and enamelled with Wealth a good King makes it the Achme of his Ruling Art and Governing Knowledg to advance the welfare of the Nation Thus then at last ye have seen a compleat King who it is that wears the right Crown of Honour and sways the true Scepter of Majesty in a Nation even He which hath these two Imperial Perfections in Him Vnderstanding for Heavenly Things and Knowledg for Temporal Things But by a Man of Vnderstanding and Knowledg The State thereof Now let us come to the Patient that is to have the benefit of this Physick The State The State thereof that is the whole Common-Wealth From hence observe that a Prudent Prince is a General Blessing For the Root of the Righteous giveth Fruit Prov. 12.12 It hath not onely Sap to flourish it self but Fruit to feed others that is many shall taste of the benefit of such an one's Government for is the Royal Family onely raised by a Wise and just Prince's coming to His Throne No Justice â—…dteth the Nation Prov. 14.34 A whole Nation is exalted when such an one is exalted for such a Governour being set in Authority He is as the Sun which doth give Light and Splendour to all within His Dominions Vnder His Shadow were we preserved Lam. 4.20 Preservation and Prosperity do reach to all that are under the Shadow of His Sovereignty For as when the Wicked are in Authority the People do sigh so when the Righteous are in Authority the People do rejoyce Prov. 29.2 a general Joy is spread through the whole Nation for not onely the King himself shall be happy but the Kingdom shall share with Him in Felicity Jacob shall take Root and Israel shall Blossom and Bud and fill the Face of the Earth with Fruit Es 27.6 The Reign of Solomon the Wise made all the People joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness which the Lord had done 1 King 8. â—6 Yea not onely He himself was in safety and welfare but Judah and Israel dwelt without fear every man under his Vine and Figg-Tree from Dan to Beer-shebah 1 King 4.25 So that a Prudent Prince is to
under his mercy What now then nothing but proclaiming of Rebels searching abroad for Taytours committing to Dungeons holding up hands at the barrs of justice Rackings and Gibbetings in the Reign of such a Prince no some wiser then other some An hasty precipitate Prince might do this but a man of understanding and knowlege hath no such spight or rancour in him There is not an hasty word heard not a disturbing Messenger sent abroad not a vindictive action appearing but all in another accent They which were his own Enemies are not so much as called Enemies much less prosecuted as Enemies except therefore they would have the Crown from his head what would they have more from the head and heart of such a Milde Mercifull Prince that weares the Crowne After intestine warres and bloody encounters what is the issue There is a reconciliation all Friends a generall Amnesty is past the King and his Enemies are at peace There is not a man which will hurt the King there is not a man whom the King will harme his Enemies will rather fall at his feet then strike at his head and the King is readier to shed teares then blood The King may rest in his Throne and his Enemies may rest in their beds Let them both rest and let not all the Machiavilians in the land all the Jesuites at Rome all the Devils in Hell be able to set them at variance We have had a chargeable insurrection a dismall warre a lasting and wastng rent but praised be the great over-ruling God that he by an Heavenly providence hath brought in the right Heir and by an Heavenly inspiration hath knit the hearts of three Kingdoms to acknowledge this Heir that not only the King and his faithfull Subjects are met but the King and his fiercest Enemies are reconciled Oh vexation to the turbulent Polititians Oh torment to the State-troubling Jesuites Oh the mysteries of Gods secret actings Oh the miracles of his unsearchable wisdome Consider and confess ponder and publish recount and record weigh and wonder sing for joy and weep for joy Ask now of the dayes that are past since the day that God Created man upon earth enquire from the one end of heaven to the other if there came to passe such a great thing as this or whether any such like thing hath been heard Deut. 4.32 A King without the Land and a single person voted never again to reign in the Land and the whole Nation filled with Swordmen Pikemen and Spearmen to fight it out to the last drop of blood rather then the designe should fall to the ground and yet in the exiled condition of the King and against the desperate Decrees of such an Illegal Irregal Depriving Depraving Deposing Decrowning Party coming through the midst of many which had been ancient Enemies not one lifting tongue or weapon that was generally known either to oppose his entrance or resist his right God to astonishment hath brought the King into the Land and brought him to his Throne setled him and setled his Enemies and all things so miraculously ordered in Heaven and so sweetly composed upon earth that all differences are ended in accord and all jarres in embracements that there are nothing but mutual and reciprocall desires and vowes for one anothers welfare Oh mercy mever to be forgotten Oh miracle never enough to be admired they require a Trophee they deserve an Hosannah yea a volley of Hymns to celebrate them Thus can the providence of God settle a distracted Nation thus can the prudence of a King pacifie a displeased distempered people and turn Capital enmity by degrees into cordial unity But to draw to a close a King that can be thus good to his Enemies to whom will he not be benigne I have shewn you how many shall have a sense of his happy Government and who may not have a share of it Yes expect it one expect it every one I say no more but that a Prudent Prince is extensive in felicity He is a blessing to a whole STATE But by a man of understanding and Knowledge the STATE theref shall be prolonged Now let us come to the lastingness of the Cure shall be prolonged From hence observe that a prudent Prince doth set up a Stable Kingdom not for a life but for generations His ego nec metus rerum nec tempora pono Virgil. 1. Aeneid There are neither measures nor stints to be put to such things wise men do not bury all their happiness with them as if when they were dead their children must go seek for estates no the Fathers shall enjoy it Virgil ibâ—d Et nati natorum qui nascentur ab illis their Sonnes shall inherit it and their Sonnes Sonnes after them so that they are happy in themselyes and happy in their posterity therefore is it said that the root of the righteous shall not be moved Prov 12.3 Such leave a deep rooting which long continuance of time can hardly pluck up Might may gain riches for a season but prudence doth bring in durable riches Pro 8.18 This is not greatness for a glance or glimpse but for perpetual generations Gen. 9.12 or to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills Gen. 49.26 that as a wise mans name and blood shall remain in his posterity so shall his felicity Whatsoever doth carry no fastening with it but is like unto a pinne half driven home yet this is a nayle in a sure place yea such a nayle as a man may hang upon it all the glory of the Fathers house and of the Nephewes and of the posterity Es 22,23 24. Quaeris Alcide parem Seneca dost look for any Champion like to Hercules and dost thou look for any Founder like to the prudent man no he doth build for ages The King that judgeth according to truth and he is the wisest Prince his Throne shall be established for ever Pro. 29.14 Was it not verified in David Yes God promised to make him a house and when his daies should be fulfilled and he should sleep with his Fathers God would set up his seed which should come out of his loynes and the Kingdom should be established 2 Sam. 7.12 VVas not this promise found true in the event yes though Judah had some Kings that were none of the best yet for the first Founders sake the Kingdom was a long time preserved as it is manifest in the reign of Abiam who was bad enough yet for Davids sake did the Lord his God give him a light in Jerusalem 1 Kings 15 4. and the like is seen in Jehorams reign who was desperately evil for he not only walked in the sinnes of Israel but took the Daughter of Ahab to wife yet the Lord would not destroy Judah for his servant Davids sake as he had promised to give him a light and to his seed for ever 2 Kings 8.19 yea no enemy for a long time could scale that City which a wise
Arrowes that they may not be once more levelled at our breasts we deserve new Judgements yea the most confounding and State-shivering plagues What will we out-trespass our first crimes out sinne the Many Princes Wretches that we are that neither Gods holy Lawes nor the Kings most pious Proclamation our Religion or our loyaltie the sense of our former miseries or the apprehension of such a memorable deliverance the honour of the Church or the preservation of the Nation the derision of Adversaries or the fear of hell can draw us to a more rectified behaviour but we talk as if we had Baltasars tongue in our heads and look as if we had Sodoms cheeks in our faces and live as if we had Pharaohs heart in our bosomes there is a Riot upon a Mercie and a rage in sinne men only take the oath of Allegiance but care neither for the honour nor safetie of the King keep Chappel but regard neither God nor his Ordinances consent to the thirty nine Articles but live as if they had not a Principle of Religion in them talk of Orthodox Ministers but are most Heterodox Gospellers it is anguish to think of it shame to consider it astonishment to behold it Oh when will ye see your Impietie When will ye confesse it When will ye weep for it When will ye desire absolution from it When will ye wash away the stain of it I invite you this day to Repentance How many Hearers have I If ye be not deaf listen to the most necessary Doctrine Saint John Baptist prepared the way to Christ by it Saint Peter set up the Gospel with it it is the entrance into a Church and the joy of Angels the lustre of Faith and the preservation of Kingdomes the leaping out of hell and the writing our names into the book of Life What affiance have we in God what true Christianity have we without it we are but sinners of the Gentiles as it were yea it is well if the men of Niniveh do not rise up in judgement against us Our consciences are but the suburbs of hell without it for there is still the guilt of nature upon us and the Kingdom is but the shooting-mark of Vengeance being void of it for there is the Transgression of the Land What sinceritie is there in any of us if we be not Penitents No I am but an hypocritical Teacher if I do not crucifie my known corruptions and ye are but counterfeit Hearers if ye do not purge your consciences from dead workes Oh therefore I beseech you all by the curse of Nature and dread of Judgement by the shame of sinne and the fame of Conversion by the state of Adoption and peace of conscience by the efficacy of Faith and the evidence of a supernatural life by the Union with Christ and the communion of the Spirit by your living preparation and your dying confidence by the quickning of your own soules and the saving many a soul from death by the blessing of your own Families and the preserving a whole Kingdom that ye hate sinne and sorrow to Repentance that ye have a broken spirit and circumcise your hearts that ye take unto you words and take away all grievances that ye pronounce a vow and obey from the heart that ye hear the Voyce behind you and stretch out your selves to that which is before you that ye leave not an hoof behind you in Aegypt nor suffer a spot to remain in the flesh that ye instantly and intensively and unfeignedly and perfectly kill all your corruptions and clear all your convictions so may ye not only burie all the curses in your bosome but interre all the miseries of the Kingdom that as the transgression of the Land brought in Many Princes so the Repentance of the Land may for ever keep them out I never found my heart so awakened to the work as now and would to God that being rowsed my self out of slumber that I could raise you out of your dead sleep The Lord knoweth who are his would to God that this were the day of his finding them up and acknowledging them for then what glad hearts and a joyfull Kingdom might ye make the men living and the children unborn might bless you Oh therefore hear God the King the ruined Families and the repaired State call upon you to put an end to the transgression of the Land An high blessing is entered into the Land welcome it dedicate it with repentance ye sinned before and ye see what were the effects of your sinnes sinne no more and ye may see and foresee what will be the fruit and vertue of your repentance Remember that the rod is taken off your backes the rasour removed from your heads the vials of wrath set by the threshng instruments of iron layd aside your many Princes are gone and are ye to be as miserable a people as ever no your dayes of sorrow are past your bitter griefes are ended if ye want not repentance ye will want no welfare ye are like to be the happiest people in the world Tempora phoebea lauro cingentur Ovid. 4 de Trist Eleg. 2. We are entring upon Triumphs Hunc laetum Tryiisque diem Trojaque profectis Virg. 1 Aennad A day of generall joy to all farre and neere is dawned For God hath cast out the many Princes and brought in a lawfull King And what can such a King do more then the many Princes alas they had brought the state even almost unto an end but a King and such a King shall cause the State to be prolonged We that were stung with many fiery serpents have now our wounds healed up we that wandered many years through the wilderness are now come to the banks of Canaan we that have outlived the judgement of many Princes are now come co have the blessing of one Man oh looke upon the Man and looke up to God which by his omnipotent hand hath brought in such a Man Virgil 4 Aenead ipse ante alios pulcherrimus omnes He is the aimable Ruler Hor. 1. ca. Od. 12. nil majus generatur ipso The earth can scarce be conceived to have brought forth a more eminent Prince Doubtlesse heaven had much in his bringing forth and bringing in None but such a Father could have begot such a Son none but such a God could have created such a Prince he hath much of the spirit of God in his affections and much of the providence of God in his Settlement Surely it was God that brought in such a Nâ—hemiah to repair the broken walles of Jerusalem such a Moses for the deliverance of all the Israelites We were for many yeares as bondmen but now saith the Lord will I bring back the captivity of Jacob and have compassion upon the whole house of Israel and will be jealous for my holy name Ezek. 39.25 Released captives where are your Hymns yea where are your shouts what do ye come dumb out