God of the surplusage of his loue towards this English nation had not ended one mercy with the beginning of another I feare our mourning dayes had not beene yet ended But God almightie without whose prouidence nothing proceeds and without whose mercy nothing is saued hath ended one bâ—essing with the beginning of another euen the blessed raigne of Queene Elizabeth with the thrice happie gouernment of our Liege Lord and King your father in whom the flowers florish and the Kingdomes are vnited Religion prospereth and superstition withereth with a Royall issue euer to liue the onely remaine of our religious hope One is easily ouercome and two will make resistance but this threefold gable is not lightly broken being beautifull as the bands of Zachary wherewith the Church is honoured the State is strengthened the subiect is comforted and our soueraigne Lord the King your father no lesse blessed in his three children then in his three Kingdomes The Lord God of heauen maker of Kings and directer of Crownes giue vnto you all grace in this life and glory in a better Amen Amen Your Graces most humble at commaund WILLIAM LEIGH THE FIRST Sermon PSALME 123. verse 1 Lord remember Dauid with all his affliction verse 2 Who sware vnto the Lord and vowed vnto the mightie God of Iacob saying verse 3 I wil not come within the Tabernacle of mine house nor clymbe vp into my bedde verse 4 I will not suffer mine eyes to sleepe nor mine eye-liddes to slumber vntill I finde out a place for the Lord an habitation for the mightie God of Iacob THE people as you may here see are pasâ—ionate for their King and they pray for him Againe the King is carefull ouer his people and he prepareth for them The people pray that their King might â—e remembred of God in al his affliction 〈◊〉 King prepareth that the people may haue the Lord propitious in all their deuotioÌ„s And such is or ought to bee the entercourse of loue loyaltie betwixt prince people happie Prince so praied for blessed people so prouided for and Israels Iuda was blessed in both Now the matter of their praier was that God would establish his promise made to Dauid their King concerning his church that he might build a place for his aboade in Sion the mountaine of his holinesse It was his care it was his affliction I say affliction much affecting his royall heart that himselfe with the nobles of Iuda and Israel should haue their solace in seeled houses whilest the Arke of God was couered with skinnes dwelt in tents and had neuer a cottage to shroude in Birds had their neastes foxes had their holes but neither poore CHRIST nor his afflicted Church coulde euer finde rest or repose in this miserable world destitute afflicted and tormented whom the world was not worthie of they wandred in wildernesse and mountaines and caues of the earth Neuer pilgrimâ—lesse pitied neuer shippe more tossed neuer Tabernacle oftener shifted then that of the Arke and presence of the Lord. Witnesse these two and fortie remoueals in the wildernesse ere Israel came to Canaan besides the small rest it hadde at Shilo in Eli his house at Ashdod with the Philistines at Bethshemesh Kiriath-iâ—arim Abinadabs house Obed Edoms and neuer at quiet till it came to Sion nor that a Sanctuarie for euer to dwell in but a Sacrament of a better being and Tabernacle in heauen which the Lord hath pight and not man For euen now the stones of Sion lye in the dust and her ruines are vnrepaired the holy people are helplesse piety is a pilgrim vpon the earth the little flocke findeth poore pasture to feed vpoÌ„ euerin motion neuer at quiet til it come retyre into the bosom of it best beloued like the doue in the deluge who fouÌ„d no rest for the soale of her foote till shee returned againe vnto the Arke This Arke thus tossed in the deluge and tyred in the wildernes despised of the heathen much neglected of the true borne Iewe together with Labans much lowring at home when in Iacob it was consumed abroade with heate in the day and with frost in the night weather beaten and weary till Dauid a Type of Christ gaue it rest who eaten vp with the zeale of Gods house deuoured all difficulties for the accomplishment who thought vpon nothing more then of a place and habitation for his holinesse to dwell in his meate went from him so did his sleepe and hee charged his soule with an oath to God for the performance These holy thoughts thus affecting his heart afflicting his soule made the people sensible of his sorrowes and therefore pierced their hearts to prouoke their prayer thus Lord remember Dauid in all his Afflictions Wherein I doe obserue two things of speciall note the first is the peoples passion for their King they are afflicted with him and therfore they pray for him the second is Dauids preparation for the people hee is carefull of them and therefore he prouides for them a place an habitation for the Lord to dwell in So as their feete might now wander no more but stand in the great congregation they loued so wel and by the Altars of their God they held so deare And for the first I meane the peoples passioÌ„ for their King ye know the saying of old Componitur orbis Regis ad exempluÌ„ And it hath it extent from Court to Country for peoples passions are framed to their Princes affections like Hippocrates twins they weepe together and they laugh together they liue together and they dye together witnesse their ioynt sorrowes after Abners herse the King wept and the people wept though the people would feast yet when they sawe the King would fast it pleased them for as the text saith whatsoeuer the King did pleased the people His passions were theirs his afflictions were theirs to teach vs that peoples actions doe Sympathize with Princes affections the Court is dead if the King bee not cheerefull and subiects sorrowe when their soueraignes are sadde Princes smyles are peoples ioyes like the lustre of the same so are the countenance of Kings with their shine they carie comforts but neuer so little shadowed with clowdes of griefe good Lord how the subiect then mourneth deare is the loue of God in the soules of his Saints but next to that is the sacred band of loue and loyaltie to Princes fathers friendes and families are further off soueraignes are the highest in the rancke If leasure would serue to turne ouer some fewe leaues of sorrowe and search into the records of griefe easily might I finde that peoples passions for their Princes haue beene most piercing great was their care ouer Dauid when they stayed him from the battel least the light of Israel should be extinguished So was it ouer Saul when they mourned his funerals with this dolefull dittie Yee mountaines of
Gilboah vpon you bee neither dewe nor rayne nor fieldes of offering for then the shield of the mightie is cast downe The shield of Saul as though he had not beene annointed with oyle The mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo where Iosias was slaine wil neuer bee forgotten where euery familie mourned a part c. and vttered their passions with this pitifull plaint the Crowne of our head is falleÌ„ woe vnto vs that euer we sinned Lastly that one may stand for all I appeale to your owne passions who haue at any time seene your own soueraigne whether your teares of ioy haue not expressed your feare of griefe mourning like the Turtle-Doue whose sweetest song is in her sorrowe least hauing lost her mate shee should not finde him and hauing found her mate least shee might loose him thousands within the kingdome doe thus blend in their moyst and mixt teares vpon the sight and thoughts of their soueraigne And here leaue we the peoples passions and come wee to their praier the sweete perfume of their deuotion in these wordes LORD remember Dauid in all his affliction Wherein first I doe obserue in that the people flye to GOD for their King with no lesse loue then loyaltie they hold that the powers that are ordained of God they hold that he looseth the collar of kings girdeth their loynes with a girdle they hold that he sitteth in the middest of magistrats demandeth an accouÌ„t of their gouernment I say they hold that it is hee and hee alone that setteth vp and pulleth downe that leadeth his people along by the hands of Moses and Aaron Wee say then with him who saide well Abrahamum non invenit dominus sed fecit patrem multarum gentium the Lord did not finde Abraham but hee made him a father of many nations hee called him from Hur of the Chaldeans Moses from the sedges Dauid froÌ„ the Ewes great with laÌ„be to feede Iacob his people and Israel his inheritance Nay Christ Iesus king of kings and Lord of lords not by intrusion but by inauguration from his father thus I will set my king vpon my holy hill of Sion Aske of mee and I will giue thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the vttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Antichristian then miserable damnable is the doctrine of all such as dare say that Popes may either set vp or pull down Princes discharge the subiect of his obedience put a knife in the haÌ„d of any to sheath it in the bowels of their soueraignes Antichristian was the practise of that proude Pope who trod vpon the neck of Kings Emperours made them to hold his stirrop because they held not steddily tripped the crownes froÌ„ their heads Ego et râ—x meus argued neither faith nor frailty in Cardinal Wolfey I may fastly say it was disloyaltie in Warwicke to giue out that he had rather make a King then be a King nay nay prowd peare it was neuer in thy power to make a King for the making of a King is the worke of a God and if it be true of all things much more of a Kings The Lord giueth and the Lord taketh away as it pleaseth the Lord so come things to passe Then cease your malice you miscreants of states for you can neuer preuaile against the Lord the powers that be are ordained of God who resisteth them resisteth the ordinance of God Is it possible to back the Sun Moone or Stars in their speedy course can ye hush the harmonie of the heauens or stil the raging of the sea caÌ„ ye alter the course of the yeare of seede time haruest of winter soÌ„mer of the day of the night can ye either giue â—ife or deliuer fro death can ye create a new world with another gouernmeÌ„t then may â—ye resist the Lords ordinance in this Alter states pluck away all power from a powerfull God But it is not in you or your Romane God ô yee popish repiners it s not your boysterous bull can push downe a Prince it s not the croaking of your frogges and Locusts your Iesuited crew and Seminarie broode can blast our doctrine blemish our state or bereaue vs of our Soueraigne disquiet you may destroy you may not for the offences of the people there be many Princes if our sins sacke vs not wee shall neuer fall if the Lord say prosper how can our branch wither and if he say from heauen ride on because of the word of truth of meekenes and of righteousnes who dare say from the earth light off ride rule and raigne no more trayterous is the hart that thinkes it trayterous is the mouth that speakes it trayterous is the hand that works it trayterous is the pen that writes it And yet woe is me to tell this our age and climate is pestered with men of such poysoned breathes who dare both thinke say doe and write that a mortall man may manage kingdomes and authorise subiects to depriue their Princes as if the powers that be were not ordained of God their faculties are of force their bulles are divulged their antichristian doctrine is traduced by Symancha Costerus and Dolman who haue blackened the aire with their derne diuinitie whilest they auerre that subiects may rise rebell kill their kings if they be not pleasing to their deuotion Augustine mourned much for that hee had euer read against the true God Tonantem Iouem adulterantem of a thundering God and of an adulterous God for so deemed the Pagans of their Iupiter Capitolinus Much more may Papists grieue that euer they either read or reuerenced in the place of God their capital Pope tonantem adulterantem a cursing God and a carnall God adulterating states and cursing Kings and yet to God be the praise his Bul bolts are but birdboults blunted by a better God witnes the flourishing blessed estate both of our Church and kingdome vnder the happie gouernment of our dread Soueraigne by whom the Lord hath multiplied our nation increased our ioy and neuer with no blessings powred vpon her from heauen then since Impius Quintus cursed her from the earth for she liueth a blessed Prince and he is dead a cursed Pope and if any trayterous Bechry the sonne of rebellious Iemini haue in his heart so bad a thought or in his mouth so foule a word kindled with heate of that bull as to say A precibus ad praelium froÌ„ prayers to your pikes and to your tents ô Israel we haue no part in Queene Elizabeth let the iudgement of Bechry fall vpon him and let all the people say Amen And let this suffice for the second obseruation teaching vs by the example of this religious and passionate people praying for their king that who plead or practise the contrarie doe violate the Lords holy ordinance and lay violent
to thinke how the Arke of his God lay in the open fielde tyred in Tents weather-beaten and wearie without shelter to shrowde it other then those worne Curtaines of skinnes and Canuas The vse is good like affliction hath followed the godlie of all Ages in the care and conscience they haue euer had to build vp a Church in the hearts and soules of Gods Saiâ—ts I am verily perswaded that if all the cares in the world besides might blend in one they could neuer be found so piercing so bleeding so deare so desperate in designes as is and hath beene the care and conscience of our soules in tender whereof good and godlie men haue neither cared for meate drinke sleepe friends life death nor the hazard of their owne solues if I may say so And why may I not when Paule wished himselfe to bee separated from CHRIST for his brethrens sake This affliction cut the heart of Abraham asunder when hee the Father of all the Faithfull should at one blowe cut off all hope in Sacrifycing Isaack his sonne his onely sonne whome hee loued this Affliction battered the heart of Iacob when hee saw the bloody coate of Ioseph and saide with a sorrowfull soule Fera pessima deuorauit eum a cruell Beast hath deuoured him This Affliction rent the heart of Ioseph when the Iron entred into his soule and none was sorrie for his affliction This was the affliction that moulded the hart of milde Moses to such compassion ouer Israel for their Idolatry wheÌ„ the Lord was angrie with them as hee wished himselfe raced out of the booke of Life that Israel might be saued This Affliction like a sworde pierced through the soule of MARIE that the thoughts of manie hearts might bee opened This Affliction like a dampe stroke the heart of Paule when hee saide I die daylie who is weake and I am not weake who is offended and I burne not This this was the Affliction that melted the heart of CHRIST when as a suter hee stood at the dore and knocked saying Open vnto mee my Loue my Doue myne vndefiled for my Head is full of deaw and my Lockes with the droppes of the Night and yet can haue no entrance Finallie that others might haue a Fellow feeling of the Afflictions and miseries Christ suffered vpon the Crosse for vs his Church hee calleth vpon the Passengers that goe by that they should looke vpon him and pittie him in this paines Haue yee no regard at all ye that passe by this way Beholde and see if there bee any sorrowe like vnto my sorrowe which is done vnto mee and wherewith the Lord hath afflicted mee in his fierce wrath O remember mine Afflictions and my mourning the wormewood and the gail Well I say no more because I see you passionate these are gone before and are all heires euen heires of God and heires annexed with IESVS CHRIST and so shall you be if you suffer with him as they did that yee may bee glorified with him as they are And so againe to Dauid the Seas of whose Afflictions to sounde were to beate backe a Iorden to reckon vp his cares with his cost for the prouision of that Worke which another should perfect were an endles account to expresse with pen or speech the passions hee felt in following the businesse were for a more powerfull spirit then I feele in my selfe I cannot come neere the depth thereof Yet this dare I say as I haue saide that all the ioyes hee had in this worlde either of pleasure or profite hee passed by them with an Abrenuncio leauing off all Princely sportes and Kingly delights till hee had done with the deuotion of his GOD his meate drinke sleepe his house bed and Palate his Courte Crowne and Kingdome These were least and last in his thoughts hee neuer deemed them deere but in the denyall binding his soule to God by vowe and oathe neuer to delight in earthlie solace till hee had fulfilled his heauenly ioyes and found out a place for the Lord an habitation for the mightie God of Iacob The beautie of which house though he might not see for that hee was a man of blood Salomon his Son must perfect the worke yet as Moses from Morijah though hee might not enter that earthly Canaan ioyed in the sight of CanaaÌ„ as a type of that heauenly being hee was to enioy vpon his death so Dauid though he might not finish the worke hee had in hand yet exceedingly ioyed that hee might prouide for the temple belowe a pregnant type of that heauenly Hierusalem which is aboue Now the building of this house here on earth where his people might more safely rest and render vp their vowes to God in heauen was Dauids holy care and greatest part of his affliction with which if you marke well you shall finde he beganne his raigne continued his rule and ended his princely life for vppon his entrance it is saide that Dauid tooke first the fort of Sion and with thirtie thousand of the chosen men of Israel rose and went from Baal of Iudah which is Kiarathiearim to bring from thence the arke of God to Abinadabs house that was in Gibeah Thence to Nachans threshing Floore and so to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittyte where after it had continued three monethes with a blessing to himselfe and all that hee had then Dauid with gladnesse brought it into his owne citie and set it in his place in the midst of the Tabernacle that Dauid hadde pitched for it where after hee had offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hoasts How this care continued his rule it may appeare by the princely preparation hee made as of the place to build vpon so of things necessarie for the building of Algunum wood fyr-trees Caedars from Tyre Sidon and Lebanon of gold from Ophyr of pearle from the Iles of siluer brasse and Iron from all about his kingdome all totalled by Dauid himselfe when he bequeathed it to God as a legacie for Salomon his sonne to bestowe vppon the Temple In these wordes Behold my sonne according to my pouertie haue I prepared for the house of the Lorde an hundred thousand Talents of Golde and a thousand Talents of Siluer and of Brasse and of Iron passing weight I haue also prepared Tymber and Stone and thou mayest prouide more thereunto vp therfore and be doing and the Lord be with thee According to my pouertie that may bee thought straunge I say straunge that there should seeme to be penurie in such plentie want in so much wealth and pouertie in so great aboundance but what is Gold to Grace I tell it from my God and speake it from my soule that who will bee rich in Heauen must be a begger on earth though not in reputation of this world yet in estimation of a better
and lawes to the worship of God her selfe not second to anie in rendering her vowes There was none able to withstand Iosuah all his life for the Lorde was with him and hee was famous throughout all the worlde Queene Elizabeth hath beaten backe all her enemies and who hath resisted her power for which her prayers is with God and her fame with men At the sounde of the Trumpet the walles of Iericho fell after Iosuah had compassed it about seuen times with the shower and shoute of his deuotion Not seuen times but seuentie times seuen times hath Qu. Elizabeth by prayer to God prophecying with men sacked that Romish Iericho whose walles to God be the praise by her princely power and prayer are well shiuered at home shaken abroad with Iosuah his curse to all such as shall repaire the ruines cursed bee the man before the Lorde that raiseth vp and builds vp this Romish Iericho Let him lay the first stone thereof in his eldest sonne and in his youngest sonne set vp the gates that is let him build to the destructiō of all his stock as Hiel did in Bethel Ai could not be wonne till the execrable thing was out Iosuah could not sacke it till sinne was punished the Hoast purged and purified of Achan his stealth Achans rebellion is discouered in Ireland in the north of England and in the south themselues with their Babilonish garment Sicles of siluer and wedges of golde execrable things in the Hoast to steale away the hearts of subiects from their allegiance haue beene brought by our Iosuah into the valley of Achor there to suffer condigne punishmēt some by execution some by banishment some by confiscation of goods with this iust sentence from Iosuah of their death and doome This place where yee die shall bee called Achor which is trouble for in as much as you haue troubled vs the Lorde shall trouble you and turne his fierce wrath from our nation The craft of the Gibeonites procured them peace with Iosuah they beguiled their Prince with the presence of an Embassage from farre and with an argument of their loue to God loyaltie to him for they say wee came from farre we are thy seruants we seeke the Lord thy God and haue heard his fame Now therfore make a league with vs looke vpon vs we come from far our sacks are patched our shooes are clouted our bottles are rent bound vp our bread is mouled our drink is sowred and we are all of the olde Loue is not suspitious it beleeueth all things it hopeth all things It endureth all things it knoweth not it owne The Gibeonites of this Lande haue beguiled Queene Elizabeth with a faire presence of loue to God and loyaltie to her person and with their patched cloake of Antiquitie Clouted shooes and Bottles mouled bread and baggage of popish trash they would beguile and still beare the worlde in hand that they are all of the oulde and so they are in rottennesse rotten hearts to God rotten hearts to their Prince as may appeare vpon the breach of couenant with our Iosuah Euen this day they should hew wood for the sacrifice but their Axes are dull they should drawe water for the house of the Lorde but their buckets are broken they should attend the Altar of the Lord but they haue digged it vp Our Iosuah hath giuen them life vpon the contracte and put them neare and about the holie things and is it not strange vppon fourtie yeares kinde vsage they should haue no greater familiaritie with their God and Prince no wood no water no Altar no prayer to God of all this long day of Iosuah so continued and so blessed for her preseruation what none why then Hee that is filthie let him bee filthie still Hee that is Popish let him bee Popish still and whiles yee would seeme to beguile vs with your Antichristian Antiquitie wee will rest vpon our New-Religion and say Antiquitas nostra Christus ours is not new but renewed like the booke of God for a long time lost but found at last by the good King Iosias and wee sing as it were a new song Reuelat. 14. 3. Aliud est nouare aliud est renouare Iosuah not knowing his successor recommended the people ouer to God at Sichem and tyed them by couenāt to serue the Lord and for an heire apparant erected a stone there to witnes against them if they should at any time denie their God Albeit saith Queene Elizabeth it doth please almightie God to continue mee still in this minde to liue out of the state of mariage yet is it not to be feared but he will so worke in my heart and your wisedomes that as good prouision may be made in conueniēt time whereby the Realme shall not remaine destitute of an heire that may be a fit gouernour and peraduenture more beneficiall to the Realme then such of spring as may come of me for though I be neuer so carefull of your weldoing and minde euer so to be yet may mine issue growe out of kinde And for me it shall be sufficiēt that a Queene hauing raigned such a time liued and died a virgin The Lord God of Gods the Lord God of Gods will prouide you a Prince of wisedome to goe out before you and to bring you in againe Lastly and to make good my text Iosua as I haue said was thrise noble in that hee preuailed with God to cammaund the creatures till the field was foughten and their enemies were subdued That Mirabilis annus of 88. will neuer be forgotten so long as the sunne and moone endureth When the starres fought for our Deborah as the sunne and moone did then for Iosua Nay more the riuer Kison swept them away from Callis in France to Dingle-Cushe in Ireland Seas Rockes and shelues fought for England shee armed her selfe with praiers to God against that great Armado and preuailed that the enemies might know they were men and not God and their horses flesh and not spirit That the shippes were but wood the tacklings but hempe Their Oares but reeds and their powder but dust nay their top-gallant must stoope at the maiestie of a greater God and vaile at the puissance of Queene Elizabeth Let Tilberie Campe speake to the praise of her presence and powerfull praier there when with God in her heart and a commaunding staffe in her hand she vttered these or the like words in her Princely march Come on now my companions at armes and fellow Souldiers in the field now for the Lord for your Queene and for the kingdome for what are these proud Philistines that they should reuile the Hoast of the liuing God I haue beene your Prince in peace so will I be in warre neither will I bid you goe and fight but come and let vs fight the battell of the Lord the enemie perhaps may challenge my sexe for that I am
doores of the Lords house euen in the first yeare first moneth and first day of her raigne procuring the Lord to be honoured aright with the pure Religion of her God and a parliament Royall to establish the same Ezekiah brought in the Priests and the Leuites and gathered them into the east streete to sanctifie the house of the Lord God and to cary forth the filthines out of the sanctuarie Queene Elizabeth called home her exiled ministers Leuites from Geneua Frankeford Zuricke and most parts of Germany to purge the sanctuarie of it pollutions and to cast forth the filthines thereof Ezekia at the very first tooke away the high places and defaced the Images and cut downe the groaues hee brake in peeces the brasen serpent that Moses had made for vnto those daies the children of Israel did burne incense to it and called it in contempt of that their Idolatry no more a Serpent but Nehushtan a peece of brasse What were your Altars of stone but high places And what were your Roode loftes Celles and shrines of Saints but groaues of superstition what was all your Imagetie with lights lampes Pax and palmes but grosse Idolatrie whereunto England burned incense to the Queene of heauen till Elizabeth came but then euen at the first downe they went and broke they were by her princely power and warrantie the careasses whereof lye at this day monuments of popissi Idolatry and of her maiesties blessed reformation with this disdaine what are they now but stick and stone and worse then Nehushtan brused brasse The Temple being purged and Imagery defaced the King with his Princes prepared for the sacrifice euen a sinne offering for the Kingdome and for the sanctuarie and for Iuda with a burnt sacrifice and an offering of praise vnto the Lord in the words of Dauid and Asaph the Seer they sung Psalmes they blewe the Trumpets and so they praised the Lord with ioy bowed themselues and worshipped whereat Ezechia reioyced and all the people that GOD hadde made them so readie for the thing was done suddenly Queene Elizabeth hauing purged the Church of England of that pregnant Idoll the Masse what hath shee lesse done then prepared for the holy Sacrament of the blessed death and passion of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ a sinne offering in deede for the Kingdome for the sanctuarie and for this our English Iuda And how often sithence hath shee sanctified it with her praier honoured it with her presence her Virgines Peeres and people bearing her companie with Trumpet Organ Voyce and Vâ—all that GOD hadde made here her people so religious for the thing was done suddenly and I pray God wee haue not lost a part of that our first loue that our Manna growe not lothsome that wee bee not colder now then wee were then and that the first tenne yeares doe not blemish the last twentie of her gratious raigne what euer it is mee thinkes there is a want both of faith to God and fealtie towardes the Prince Graunt Lord wee may bee zealous and amend Ezechia came to his raigne in desperate times when Ahaz his father had peruerted the state both of Church and common-weale fetched Altars from Damascus and sacrificed his sonnes to the fire became tributarie vnto Assur exiled the godly of Iudah and had brought in the abhominations of Babel and subscribed to Tiglath Pilesar King of Assur saying I am thy seruant and thy Sonne Euen so Queene Elizabeth beganne her raigne in desperate times when her Sister had shaken the State with no lesse fearefull then fiery designes fetched Altars from Rome and sacrificed her chiefest subiects to the fire exiled the godlie of the land brought in Straungers because a vassall to the Pope and subscribed to his power saying I am thy Seruant I am thy Hand-mayde Ezechiah withstood Assur payed him no tribute yeelded him no homage resisted Rabsechah and endured his rayling with a Princely patience committting the successe to God who made him glorious by deliuerance And did not our gratious soueraigne withstand the Pope all his vassall Kings Did she not discharge herselfe and people of all Tribute Toll and Taxe that way Hath shee not endured the raylings of many Romish Rabsecahes with a Princelie patience and hauing committed the successe of all her affaires to God is shee not made glorious by deliuerance whiles they are a dead accursed and cursing crue and yet she liueth a blessed Queene long may we say to our solace and their sorrow liue liue It is said of Ezechia that the Lord saued him and the inhabitants of Hierusalem from the hand of Zenacharib King of Assur and from the handes of all other and maintained them on euery side good LORD how haue the Leaguers cast their hands together with one consent consederate against thine annointed thy Church and people in England Gebal and Ammon and Amalecke the Philistimes with them that dwell at Tyre I meane the Tabernacles of Romish Edomites whose crie was downe with it downe with it euen to the ground let vs take to our selues the house of God in possession But good Lord how often haue we beene saued both Prince and people from this ill kinde of men how hast thou maintained vs on euery side thine Angell fought for Ezechia thy Starres haue fought for Debora and the riuer Kison hath swept them away O my God make them still like vnto a wheele And as the stubble before the winde In the daies of Hezechia it is saide that many brought offerings vnto the LORD â—â— Hierusalem and presents to Hezechia King of Iuda so that hee was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth they persecuted Churches of other Kingdomes and poore exiled Christians let them speake to the comfort of their soules with how great ioy and gladnesse their offerings here in England haue beene tendered by them and receiued by vs let them speake to the honour of our Queene and countrey how liberally they haue bin maintained when they hadde nothing to feede vpon but winde and aire yea and what nation is there in whose sight Queene Elizabeth is not magnified either dread for her puissance loued for her vertue or admired for her gouernment To bee briefe Ezechia had exceeding much riches honour treasures of siluer and gold of precious stones of sweet odors and of shields of al pleasant vessels store-houses for the increase of wheate wine and oyle stals for all beasts and ranges for the stables The Lord hath blessed our Queene with his hidden treasures here on earth and her honor is great in her aboundance her Garrisons are full in Ireland Flaunders and Barwick and yet her treasures are not exhâ—â—â—sted and for her store of shields shot and munition wheate wine and oile stalles for beastes and ranges for stables let her officers speake both in Court and Countrie sure I am we feele
no lacke her exactions are not grieuous Lastly and so an ende of her praise but neuer of our praier to GOD for her Ezechia was sicke vnto the death hee prayed vnto the Lord and hee heard his prayers and pitied his teares and the Lord spake comfortably vnto him and gaue him a signe of his recouerie by the going backe of the shadowe of Asa his diall tenne degrees vpon the wall A sure symboll or Sacrament of fifteene yeares moe to bee added vnto his daies Where note first I pray you that the promise from God was fifteene and the degrees were but tenne to teach vs as one hath truely obserued that the Lord euer giueth moe graces vnto his word then to his Sacraments that begettting these but confirming the faith which the word hath formerly be gotten But to the comparison in hand and proiect I ay me at wee knowe that Princes are GODS yet must they dye like men there 's no difference in the moulde from the rich Crowne of Kings to the poore beggars crutch all must grinde to greete and to determine of the life of Kings and period of Kingdomes is not the least of Gods secretes onely reserued to himselfe yet if when it shall please the Lord to touch our dread soueraigne with sicknesse the harbenger of death it would likewise please him to pull backe the diall of her dayes some fewe degrees and adde more yeares vnto her dayes it were and would be as great a blessing to vs of England as euer Hezechia his life was to Israels Iuda which and if it may not by reason our many sins then Lord take her to eternitie neuer to dye And in the meane time whilest wee may enioy her blessed raigne with her life let vs foster and cherish Elizabeth as chaste Abishagge with the worthies of Israel did their Dauid of whom it is written that when he was old stricken in yeares they couered him with clothes but no heate came vnto him The counsell was to finde out a fairer virgin to stand before the King to chearish him and lie in his bosome that the King might get beate so they found one Abyshag a Sunamite and brought her to the King the maide was exceeding faire and cherished the King and ministred vnto him but the King knew her not The vse is good for in the person of Dauid you may behold as in a mirrour the state and condition of Princes what it is Princes are old cold and chillery Princes must decay and weare away In the person of Dauids seruants and faire Abishage is to be seene the loue and loyaltie towards their Soueraignes what it ought to be they stretch their wits to aduise practise with all their power how to preserue the Lords annoynted subiects must be carefull of their King The publike and priuate praier of all the land who owe faith to God and fealtie to their Prince all praise and prophecie this day what is it but chaste and faire Abishage found out to foster their liege Lady the Queene to stand before her chearish and lie in her bosome to get her heate and lengthen her life but oh that our praiers were more powerfull yet to preuaile with the Lord of life that she might liue to his glory and our comfort sweete Sunamyte let thy virginall vigor pierce her vaines warme her blood refresh her spirits Lord let the powerfull praier of priest Peere and people preuaile with their God for the safetie of his annoynted Without which it is to small purpose what euer we can say doe or deuise for what 's pollicie without pietie except the Lord keepe the citie the watchman watcheth but in vaine and except the Lord be her guard great is her danger for all humane succours faile in their greatnes no gold of Ophir no Orient pearle of Peru or Mexico no arme of flesh no horse ship or shower of shot no watch guard or counsel no Physicke drink or diet no furs of spotted Ermynes or sweet Sables can preserue your Elizabeth giue her life or length of daies faire Abishage must giue her heate It is the perfume of our praier to God in heauen that must preserue our Prince on earth And so let vs pray O Lord God almightie c. FINIS Psal. 93. 2. Sam. 7. 2. Mat. 8. 20 Heb. 11. 38. Numb 3â— 1. Sam. 4. 5. 1. Sam. 6. 7. Heb. 8. 2. Lament 1 4. Gen. 8. 9. Gen. 31. 40. Acts 13. 22. Psal. 49. 9. 1 2 Claudian 2. Sam. 3. 2. Sam. 21 17. 2. Sam. 1. 21. Zachar. 12. 11. 12. Lament â—5 16. Rom. 13. Prou. 8. 15. 16. Psal. 77. 〈◊〉 12. 18 â—â—â—l 82. 1. â—en 12. 1. Exod. 3. 2. â—sal 78. â—1 Psal. 2. 6. Iob. 1. 21. Rom. 13 1. 2. Prou. 21. 30. Reuel 9. 3. Prouerb â—8 2. Psal. 45. 4. Augustinus in confession Eccles. 10. 20. Esay 32. 2. Ieremie 29. 7. Luk. 2. 1 Matt. 22 21. 1. Tim. â— 1. 2. 1. Pet. 2 13. 14 1. Pet. 2. 17. 2. Cor. 11. 28. Ester â— â— c. 〈◊〉 â— Verse 23. Psâ—â— Lament â— 19. Psal. 38. 2. Gen 5. 2. 2. 〈◊〉 5. 18. â—say 49. 23. Reuel 12 Dan. 12. Reuel 1â— 11. Psal. 137. 7. Psal. 105. 18. â—el 21. 22. â—uel 7. 9. Iohn 1â— Rom. 9. 3. Gen. 22. 9. 10. Gen. 7. 33. Psal. 10 18. Exod. 3â— 32. 1. Cor. 11. 29. Cant. 5. 2. Lum 112. 1. Chron. 22. 1. Chron. 22. 8. Deut. 34. Gal. â— 26. 2. Sam. 5. 2. Sam. 6. 1. Chron. 22 14. Phil. 3. 8. â—â—â—k 19. 8 Luk 23. 52. Lu. 14. 26 Luk. 7. 3â— Matt. 26. 8. Act. 1. 1â— Phil. 2. 2 Gal. 4. 26. Exod. 25. 1. c. 2. Cor. 9. 7 Ps. 54. 6. Exod. 35. â—1 c. Exod. 38 26. Exod. 38 24. 25. Exod. 38. 8 Exod. 35 26. Exod. 36. 4. 5. Mal. 3. 8. 1. Chroni â—2 17. 18. c. 1. Chron. 28. 2. 1. Chron. 29. 2. c. Iud. â— 1â— c. Deut. 1. Pope with prince hath neither pre â—edency nor parity â— Sam. 6. â—3 2. Thes. 2 4. Iohn 21. 15. 16. c Intertia parte summâ— maiorit lib. ter Dist. 19. Matth. 1. 1. â— Mach. â—6 2. c. Abacuck 2. 2. 1. Sam. 16 11. Psal. 129. Psal. 69. 8. 1. Sam. 17 28. 1. Sam. 18. 1. Sam. 20 1. 1. Sam. 22 9. 1. Sam. 24 4. Psa. 35. 11 12. 1. Sam. 18. 10. 11. 1. Sam. 27. 1. 1. Sam. 30 5. 6. 1. Sam. 22 9. 1. Sam. 25 3. 1. Sam. 20 11. c. Iudg. 5. â—â— â— Sam. 5. 17. 8. 1 Psal. 83. 6. 7. 2. Sam. 15 1. 2. Sam. 20 1. 2. Sam. 6. 16. 2. Sam. 16 5. 2. Sam. 16 21. 2. Sam. 3. 27. 39. 2. Sam. 6 16. Heb. 10. 29. Reuel 1. 4 Esay 9. 23 Esay 9. 47 Psal. 72. 6 Esay 8 â— 1. Sam. 17 45. c. Dan. 2. 45. 1. Sam â— 45. 4. 6. 2. Sam. â— 2. Sam. â— 10. 11. â—â— 2. Sam. 8. 14. â— King 2.
stockes and so stayed the bells but now Benefielde hath his passing peale and to God bee the praise I hope there is not a bell in England that rings not a tongue in England that prayes not an hart in England that ioyeth not in and for the life of their soueraigne if any Meroits there be who will not do as we do let the curse of Meros light vpoÌ„ them for that they come not to help the Lorde against the mightie and let the Israel of God â—ay Amen To passe by her afflictions sithencâ— her raigne I may not euen since shee came to the royall diademe of her crowne and dignitie no sooner set vpon her head but the care of her people was in her heart pressing out this passionate speech I care not for my selfe my life is not deare vnto mee they which might knowe what cares I beare with this burthen would neuer thinke I take no great ioy in wearing the Crowne Ballance them with Dauids afflictions and if yee bee not partiall of her perils you shall finde them such as may pierce your hearts to prouoke your speech and pray Lord remember Elizabeth in all her afflictions vpon Dauids entrance the Philistines were against him the Aramites against him Edom and Ammon with the Moabites and Hagarens the Grecians Sirogrecians these are forraine foes manie in number mightie in power malitious in heart bloody in hand and practises how many and mighty were they who cast their heads together with one consent and as it is in the Psalme were confederate these were enemies of state forraine and abroade And were they lesse dangerous at home Absolon his owne sonne Absolon by name the fathers peace became the fathers bane and sought his death who gaue him life Seba the sonne of Bechry a man of Gemini with his wicked roote disclaimed that hee had any part in the sonne of Iesse Michol mocked him and despised his deuotions Shemey curseth Achitophel plotteth Abner dieth and the sons of Zerniah are too hard for Dauid Forraine power were against our Elizabeth and are confederate Balaam Balack Turke Pope with all their vnited forces and for our home treasons they are greater then they can be expressed with tears they breake the heart ere they can bedewe the cheekes mightie Absolons and base borne Sebaes many Achitoâ—hels I meane plotting Iesuits and Seminaries with their whining Cardinall Allen in their bloody designes haue disclaimed their Elizabeth Shemey curseth Pope Pius is become Impious the cursse is turned vpon himselfe for Elizabeth liueth a blessed Prince hee is dead a cursed Pope Lord remember Elizabeth c. Nay more to make ful the measure of her afflictions the Michols of this land are manie who disdaine our Dauid dauncing before the Arke scorne her deuotions and mocke her religion traÌ„ple vnder foote the bloud of the couenant as an vnholy thing and is not this an affliction yes no doubt and an afflicting affliction therefore we had need to pray Lord remeber Elizab c. Lastly our sinnes euen our loude crying sinnes hazard the life of our Prince our vnthankfulnes to God for her our colde deuotion and chilling zeale being fallen from our first loue our neglect of the word Sacraments and Sabaoths our generall Apostasie from the Faith our lacke of loue our great oppression and gnawing vsurie our extrauagant lusts of the flesh our excessiue Pride and hellish heate of Ambition I say anie of these hazard a Prince all these together shake the State and therefore wee had need to pray Lorde remember Elizabeth c. In tender of whose deliuerance long life and happie raigne there remaineth a dutie to bee performed this day on our behalfe eueÌ„ with our good God to plead her cause and pray for her person Lux haec venerabilis Anglis This day is deare to England and of all the mercies of our GOD registred in the Kalender of his Loue next to that of his Sonne CHRIST Albo signanda lapillo to bee of blessed memorie wherein wee haue found to our vnspeakable ioy and doe feele to the gladnes of our hearts that the people that walked in darknesse haue seene a great Light and wee that earst dwelt in the Land of the shadowe of death I meane of poperie and grosse Idolatrie vpon vs hath this Light shined God in mercie hath increased our ioye in the life light and gouernment of our dread soueraigne in whose fun-shine now we walke and pray that her day may euer dawne The allusion is good from our Christ to our Queene for by him and her the yoke of our burthen the staffe of our shoulder and the rodde of our oppressor hath bene broken as in the day of Midian and surely till these her Alâ—ion dayes euery battel of the warrier hath bin with noise and tumbling of garments in bloud but hers hath bene in softnes and in silence like a showre of Raine vppon a fleece of wooll like vnto Siloah that runneth softly by Sion like vnto the battell of Salmos hath fought our Salem Queene Sine Sudore sanguine without sweat or blood and like her Christ patiendo potiùs quam agendo auxit imperium her conquest hath beene without blood or broyle rather by sufferance and succouring of others at home then by seasures abroad hath she inlarged the bonds of her Empire And here seasonably and for conclusion of all spare me in a word to Paralell the two Princes as in their afflictions so in successe of blessings to make the yoke of their heauie gouernment more supportable Dauid killed Goliah in his weake strength with prayer in his mouth a peeble stone in his hand he stroke him on the forehead for that hee did confront his God Etibi percutitur vbi deerat Christus There hee felled him where Christ was fayling Queene Elizabeth in her weake and femimine sex to giue God the glorie hath subdued that great Giant at Gath I meane that man of Rome with the sweete perfume of prayer in her mouth and the power of the word of God in her blessed hand a stone hewen out of the mountaine without hands as Daniel saith dashing in peeces all the marbles of this world in the spirit and speech of Dauid hath beene her royall martch Thou commest to me with a sword with a speare and with a shield but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hostes that God of the Hoste of Israel whom thou hast railed vpon this day shall the Lord close thee in my haÌ„d that all the world may know that englaÌ„d hath a God Dauid brought the Arke into his Citie by the hands of the Leuites So doth Queen Elizabeth the Religion of her Christ into the bowels of al her kingdomes by a beautifull ministery Dauid dedicated the vessels gotten of the Gentiles to the vse of the temple so doth she the spoiles of the Papists to the maintenance of
the Church Dauid put Garisons in Edom and made Siria tributary and the Lord kept Dauid whithersoeuer he went Ireland France and Flaunders haue bin garded with her Garisons paied her tribute and done her homage by land and by seaâ— haue her colours displayed in their defence to keepe them from the spoile of Popery Dauid with these heauenly had the successe of earthly blessings for he was rich and his kingdome was populous hee was needing to none yet most of his neighbour-nations had neede of him Queene Elizabeth is blessed of God in her bountie toward all her shipping shot men and munition are a wall of defence to her selfe a guard of comfort to her neighbour-bordering friendes and a terror to her frowning enemies What should I say more Dauid is dilectus domini the beloued of God she is Elizabeth Gods rest whose quiet rule and peaceable gouernment in and for her Christ is to all her louing and loyall subiectes as it were a retyring campe after the day of battell Finally Dauids raigne was with the longest and neare the highest of his rancke the dayes of our Elizabeth are faire and full and the Lord lengthen them as the dayes of Iosua which had the fairest creatures at commaund till the battell was ended and the fight finished and thou GOD of time and of all eternitie so determine her dayes as may bee most to thy glory best for the poore Church for Englands good and the saluation of her princely soule Amen Amen and the helpe of heauen be with her THE SECOND Sermon IOSVA 10. 12. Then spake Iosua vnto the Lord in the day when the Lord gaue the Amorites before the children of Israel and saide in the sight of Israel Sunne stand thou in Gibeon and thou Moone in the valley of Aialon TWo mightie nations did contend in the wombe of Rebecca the one in Esau the other in Iacob but by the prouidence of God the younger preuailed against the elder gained the birthright with the blessing Such wofull contentions haue euer bin in the wombe of the Church betwixt the Israel of God and Esau his brood and proâ—eniâ— yet hath not the Lord failed in mercy to deliuer his Turtle-doue from the violence of the assaulter As we here find in Iosua and feele in our ioyfull experience this day who maugre the spite of Esau Ismael all the Amorites of our State Church and Kingdome hath graced our nation with a birth-right and a blessing a birth-right in our Christ a blessing in our Prince both such as Esau with all his Romish Edomites shall neuer obtaine at Isaacks hands though he begge seeke it with plaints and teares For so good a God so gracious a Prince so happie and desired a peace so great plenty with such aboundance of all things and a time of continuance so long and so bright of all Gods blessings both heauenly and earthly is not for Moab Ammon or mount Seir but for the hill of Gods holinesse Israel England and mount Sion Nor doe I doubt but this blessed day will yet dawn and lengthen like the day of Iosua Gods mercies will yet abound his graces flowe ouer the enemies of our State bee discomfited and the helpe of heauen shall prosper our Prince â—â— it did Iosua if wee practise and pray for her preseruation Yea the Lord shall stand for England as hee did for Israel in mount Perazim hee shall bee wrath as in the valley of Gibeon that hee may doe his worke his strange worke and bring to passe his acte his strange acte euen to match the power of Elizabeth with the might of Iosua her prowesse with his puissance a maiden Queene with a manly king to deliuer his Church from the disastrous designes of Adoni-zedeck and all his Romish retinue And first of Iosua as I am guided by my text whose puissance was such as First preuailed with God Secondly with his fairest creatures And lastly with his greatest enemies Hee preuailed with God in the highest heauens He preuailed with his creatures in the firmament of his power He preuailed against his enemies in the vaste valley of Aialon Tendit ad ardua virtus There was neuer King aduentured vpon greater dangers the God with whom he dealt was a consuming fire The creatures hee encountred before that time were neuer backed and the enemies be subdued were fiue mightie Kings of the Amorites with all their retinue like grasse-hoppers vpon the ground for multitude and thus with his heroicall spirit as Siracides saith hee rushed in vpon the nations in battell and in going downe of Betheron hee destroyed the aduersaries that they might knowe his weapons and that he fought in the sight of the Lord that gaue him might and in the shine of the Sun that gaue him light intreating the one and commaunding the other to bee propitious Now for the weapons of this his warfare as you here see they were not carnall but spirituall and mightie in operation to cast downe holds for he sent to God the arrowe of his deliuerance which was his prayer when hee saide Then spake Iosua vnto the Lord hee sacked both Sunne and Moone with the word of his commaunde when he saide Sun stay thou in Gibeon and thou Moone in the valley of Aialon and then hee drewe out his sword to take vengeance of his enemies that rose vp against him when hee set Israel in their possessions Thus honourable Iosua managed the battell like renowned Dauid when he marshalled the field said Let the praise of God be in your mouthes and a sharpe two edged sword in your handes to be auenged of the heathen and to rebuke the people Iacob wept and prayed found God at Bethel Iosua fought and prayed and found God at Gibeon the Sunne Moone obeyed the word of Iosua because the God of heauen heard the prayer of Iosua O piercing word and powerfull prayer so to preuaile when all other succours failed for the day was welneare spent the battel was scarce begun the passages were daÌ„gerous dark night approached Israel knew no way the Amorites were acquainted with euery winding bogges bushes and shady groues rockes hils and derne dales might haue broken the battell and disordered the campe in the darknes silence of the night if God had not lengthened the day and therfore Iosua his issue was but one it was a strange one to dismisse the night and bid it be gone to stay the passage of the Sun to bid it stand and spare no light till the fight were finished that God and Israel might haue the honour of the day by that most miraculous and heauenly station Now tell mee who was there before him like to him that thus fought the battels of the Lord for the Sunne stood still at his command and one day was as long as two Here to determine the certaine howers of that day and minutes