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A01704
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The blessing of a good king Deliuered in eight sermons vpon the storie of the Queene of the south, her words to Salomon, magnifying the gouernment of his familie and kingdome. By Thomas Gibson, minister.
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Gibson, Thomas, M.A.
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1614
(1614)
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STC 11841; ESTC S103127
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203,984
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514
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to worke in all manner of worke-manship And beholde I haue ioyned with him Aholiab the sonne of Ahisamah of the tribe of Dan and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted haue I put wisdome to make all that I haue commanded thee By the which place wee may see that wisedome and skill to doe such workes is the gifte of GOD and the wisedome of God doth not take away or ouerthrowe the wisedome of the worlde in Sciences gouernments or Trades but rather it doeth helpe and cure the errors and faultes that are in humane wisedome the preseruation of Kingdomes and Cities consisteth in peace iustice and mercie but all these are commended and commanded in the Gospell All ciuill vertues as Chastitie Temporance Iustice Fortitude are made better by the Gospell What is the ouerthrow of Kingdomes and of Countreys but notorious vices and sinnes As Prophanenes Atheisme Idolatrie disobedience Murthers Adulteries and such like but Gods wisedome doth reproue contemne and ouerthrow all such vices There are some things common betwixt humane and diuine wisedome as in both there are proofes from causes and effects things necessarie and things profitable are distinguished arguments are disposed in iust order and in fit wordes in both there are definitions diuisions collections but yet great difference betweene humane and diuine wisedome The one doth follow the light of nature the other is guided by the Spirit and by Faith The one doeth drawe her principles from the Sences from Obseruation and Experience the other doeth altogether wholie and onely rest vpon the worde of God The one doth dispose of speeches and actions according to the nature of the hearers and businesses The other is alwayes like her selfe laying open the sinnes of men and the wrath of God against them offering CHRIST and his benefites to all beleeuing and repenting sinners and finallie vrging amendment and newnes of life This is the summe and course of Gods wisdome without alteration Againe the wisedome of the world doth deuise vtter eloquent speeches and fine sentences the wisdome of God doth vse fit graue simple plaine words the other doth boast it selfe doth lift vp the mindes of men this doth humble and cast them downe Now seeing there are so many and great differences how can they agree together and euer be reconciled And therefore the wisedome of God accounteth the wisdom of the world foolishnes and the Lord speaketh basely of the wisdome of this worlde esteeming counting it meere foolishnes And yet there is a lawfull vse of ciuill wisedome in this life but in the life to come it hath no vse at all this heere is not to bee contemned but may bee vsed and hath many commodities in this world but it doth nothing profit to saluation it must not meddle with Gods wisedome to check or controule it but rather submit her selfe to it as a seruant and hand-maid and to keeepe her selfe within her owne compasse and limits and yet this wisedome hath her worthinesse and excellencie it is more excellent then riches pleasure or strength for what are all these without wisedome and therefore the Wise man sayeth That wisedome is good with an inheritance and excellent to them that see the sunne his meaning is that heritages goods lands are the gifts of God but wisedome is farre more excellent and may be without them but riches or pleasures without wisedome will doe vs more hurt then good Againe he sayeth Wisedome shall strengthen the wise man more then ten mightie princes that are in the citie Yet most doe glorie in riches and hunt after pleasures and few regard humane wisedome and learning moe are foolish simple and sottish that way then wise Great good and profit comes by the knowledge of naturall things for they doe publish the praise of the Creator and from them we may learne to know the Creator The heauens declare the glorie of God and the firmament sheweth his handie worke But this knowledge is sufficient to make men excusable but not sufficient to saluation But all ciuill humane wisedome is but a shadow in respect of true wisedome which doth excell al other as the heauen doth excell the earth this commeth and proceedeth from the holie of holiest as it were from the kings secret closet the other from the common treasurie as it were from the outward courts of the kings pallace true wisedome is bestowed onely vpon Gods friends the other vpon his enemies also It may be demaunded then of what wisedome this woman speaketh which she calleth the wisedome of Salomon and counteth them blessed that heareth it It is true that Salomon excelled in the knowledge of naturall things of liberall sciences and of publicke priuate gouernment It is said before in this booke that God gaue Salomon wisedome and vnderstanding exceeding much and a large heart euen as the sand that is on the sea shore Salomons wisedome excelled the wisedome of all the childreÌ„ of the East al the wisedome of Egypt for he was wiser theÌ„ any man he was famous throughout all nations round about But this woman came to be instructed and satisfied in things concerning the name of the Lord she came to Ierusalem where was the Law the Temple Salomon she had no doubt at home many Philosophers many wise learned meÌ„ which could sufficieÌ„tly instruct her in the knowledge of naturall worldly mattâ—â— but they could not satisfie her in her doubts coÌ„cerning religion Againe the effect power wrought in her heart by this wisedome driueth her to great admiration she reposeth felicitie in it it wrought in her grace religion confessing worshipping the true God and acknowledging Israel to be Gods people No wit of man no ciuil or humane wisedome hath any such power to worke such a worke Now that Salomon was a Prophet full of diuine wisedome his works extant amongst vs doe proue it I meane his three worthie bookes of the Prouerbes Canticles Ecclesiastes which are Canonicall and his true bookes in the Hebrew Canon I pray you consider with me the summe of the diuine matter contained in those bookes The Prouerbes are most excellent not humane but diuine all nations and tongues haue their peculiar prouerbs sentences and wittie counsels in fewe words setting out great matter There be sentences of Plato Aristotle Plutarch Seneca but there is great difference betwixt the Prouerbes and sentences of the wisest Gentiles and Prouerbs of Salomon for the other they are knowne in nature and many of them are prophane and filthie contrarie to faith and charitie but these are Propheticall sacred Scripture inspired by the Holy Ghost they containe many things which humane reason is not able to see nor comprehend they commend the word of God and teach true wisedome how we may attaine to it and stirre vp all to seeke and follow it they teach vs faith and pietie the true worship and feare of God the true loue of God and our
their hearts must be full of loue pittie and compassion The fift vertue in noble Ioseph is his patience and magnanimitie in suffering so great wrongs and iniuries He was hardlie dealt with all by his brethren many waies being reuiled scorned and sold into Egypt by them falsely accused by his mistris and vniustly cast into prison by his maister In all his miseries he possessed his soule with patience and when it was in his power to bee reuenged of his brethren he bridleth his affections kindly entreateth them and ouercommeth euill with goodnesse Oh rare example of true Christian patience and courage he feedeth them he entertayneth them and preserueth them that had conspired against him The last vertue is his kindnesse loue and dutie to his father he inquireth of his brethren touching the life and health of his olde father In time of dearth hee sent prouision for him and his without money He sent Chariots to bring him and hâ—s familie into Egypt Hee went to meete his father Israel and presented himselfe vnto him falling on his necke and weeping a good while Hee bringeth him before Pharoah Hee placed his father and brethren giuing them possessions in the Land of Egypt in the best of the land He visiteth his sicke father he fell vpon his face wept vpon him and kissed him at his death performes his will and honorably burieth him And to this kindnes al are bound by the law of God nature by the care loue benefits of Parents towards them for which we are neuer able to make sufficient recoÌ„pence These are the chiefe and Princely vertues in a Noble person worthie to bee imitated of all the sonnes of Nobles Most worthie is that of Ambrose Esâ— bonorum adolescentium timorâ—m dei habere deferre parentibus honorem c. It is required of good yong men to haue the feare of God to giue honour to their parents to reuerence their elders to keepe themselues chaste bee humble and lowly to loue kindnesse and shamefastnes which are ornaments to young age for as grauitie is commended in olde men so shamefastnes in young men as if it were by the gift and dowry of nature Isaacke a childe fearing God the sonne and heyre of Abraham giueth such honour to his father that hee refused not death at his fathers pleasure Ioseph also when hee dreamed that the Sunne and Moone and Starres shoulde worshippe him yet was hee still carefull to honour his father so chaste that hee would not haue an vnchaste worde so shamefast that hee fled from his mistresse so humble that hee was content to serue so patient that hee cheerefully suffered imprisonment so readie to forgiue iniurie that hee preferred those that sought his life Therefore the blessing of his father fell vpon him These things I write Right Honourable not that I doubt eyther of your good education or vertuous disposition but hearing of your good beginning and proceedings in grace my purpose is onely to comfort and encourage you in that good way where you are already entred But for further direction I referre you to the Sermons following which I haue dedicated to your Honour together with that worthie Citie where they were preached and where your Honour now to the comfort of many doth succeed your worthie father in place and authoritie The cause of my dedication to your Honour is First loue to your selfe heartily wishing continuance and increase in grace being the speciall ioy hope and ornament of our Countrey An other cause is the dutie I owe to your Hoâ—ourable parents to whom both I and mine are so farre obliged that wee shall neuer bee able so much as to bee sufficiently thankfull much lesse to requite them And thus I beseech the Almighty God the father of all gifts to bestow vpon your Honour the portion of Ioseph all the noble vertues and graces that were in him all true prosperitie and honour in this life and an eternall inheritance in that blessed and heauenly Canaan prepared and purchased by the blood of Christ for all such as truely beleeue in him Your Honours to command alwaies in the Lord THOMAS GIBSON TO THE RIGHT Worshipful M. Mayor of Couentry the Iustices Aldermen Sheriffes to all the rest of that corperation and to all within the liberties of that Citie which sincerely professe and loue the truth of Christs Gospel T G wisheth all happines in this life and euerlasting glory in the life to come SVch is the gratious fauour kindnes of our good mercifull God towards his children seruants here on earth Right worshipfull and beloued in the Lord that in his loue he vouchsafeth to accept and to approue their weake seruice and workes so that they be done and performed with honest right and good affections And thus he accepteth our prayer hearing receiuing almes and other actions being weakely and vnperfectly performed by vs. And if the Lord were not of this gratious inclination and nature wee might be vtterly discouraged to doe him any seruice at all considering the manifold wants and infirmities that are in vs. But being sure of his fauour and acceptance and of our owne honest desires and affections to doe more and better then wee can performe and being sorrie wee can doe no better we are emboldned to performe any dutie and seruice to so good a God and louing a father and it is his owne will and commandement that we should doe so Thus he saith to Moses about the building of the materiall tabernacle Speake to the childreÌ„ of Israel that they receiue an offering for me of euery man whose heart giueth it freely Yet shall take the offering for me and this is the offering which you shall take of them gold siluer and brasse and blew silke purple and scarlet and fine linnen and goates haire Rammes skins coloured red the skins of Badgers and the wood Shiâ—im From whence we are to learne that God requireth the offerings of his people for the building of his tabernacle and furthering his seruice Againe that he requireth not a compelled but a cheerfull seruice a true sincere ioyfull heart and affectioÌ„ And further we learne that the endeuour and labour of those which any way helpe the spirituall building either by cost or counsell so farre as they may is a seruice pleasing to God For we see things there offered be of diuerse kinds some more pretious some base and vile There be difference of gifts in building the spirituall tabernacle some are endewed with gold some with siluer some with blew silke and all profitable Such as God hath giuen such we are to bring and God will accept it Some things God appointed that the poorest might be able to offer and no man shut out for want of abilitie they may bring wood stone or at least Goates haire Euery one in his calling as he hath receiued must doe his vttermost endeuour to further the building Some by preaching some by writing some by