Decemb. 28. A Table of the special points and common places OVT OF THE FIRST SERMON THE practise of traitours was prophecied of before and is auncient Treason against the Countrie and Prince detested The manner of traitours double Examples of hypocrisie and flattering in traitours A warning to Princes and Noble men to expel such deceitful persons out of their courts and houses 4 Motiues and causes inducing men to weasons Vnbridled and licentious libertie Couetousnesse and ambition Enuie and Jngratitude and Religion pretensed and speciallie Popish And the Pope by specialties is declared to bee the Abishai in our daies Two waies the Pope vseth by himselfe or by his instruments Nouices Monks â—riars Cardinals c. Papistes in their Religion make bloodie vowes which ought to be broken The Popes Religion dispenseth with good oathes of allegeaunce made to Princes and he can depose them by his Religion OVT OF THE SECOND SERMON SEdition and discord disproued The aunswere of Dauid to Abishai threefold 1 Dauids prohibition in which he forbiddeth the murdering of Saul The reason of Dauid by the effect and discommodities expounded at large Jn the person of a Prince are two circumstances by condition as man by calling as King the Lords annointed Whether any man maie be killed of anie priuate man and how The Exposition of the law Thou shalt not murder out of Augustine Princes ordained not of themselues nor of fortune nor of Iupiter but of Almightie God and therefore not to bee touched but by God whether he be good or euil Why euil Magistrates are aduanced The office of a Prince in that he is called a God The true oile wherewith Princes are annointed is onelie the holie Ghost The office of Subiects to a Prince as being God also a double Jmage of God A proofe of Dauids opinion for obedience to superiours by nature a good schoolemistresse as in beasts birdes fishes serpents and other naturall creatures Also in the time of Nature before the Law and to natural and Ethnish Princes with the commodities of such obedience to the heathen gouernours The punishments inflicted vpon traitors by the iudgement of these naturall Ethnish men among the oulde Romanes Turks and other infidels OVT OF THE THIRD SERMON THE Pope a Zoganes or a Lord of misrule A viperous and Serpentine broode from Rome spread among vs. Chrysostome excellentlie discourseth of this obedience of Dauid A general rule of reuenge Like wil haue like The Law of Nature a good argument Other particulars in Nature of dogs horses panthers and men Lawes in Jndia The Law of God in the old testament giuen to the Iewes and examples there to perswade this obedience Against Accessaries and Iustifiers of Traitours A notable pattern of Obedience is Dauid and his example a sufficient glasse to looke in Particular Lawes against murderers and Mutiners Lawes and examples in the new testament The opinion of the fathers after Christ the dutifulnes of our first Christians towardes their wicked gouernours The Ciuil Lawes against al abuses touching a Prince in fact in purpose and intent in his coine c. Executions and experiments of Ciuil and Christian Magistrates against such disorders and outrages OVT OF THE FOVRTH SERMON A Rule of Chrysostome necessary for Preachers Decrees and authorities out of the Canon and Popish lawes against murder Three kinds of murder The Popes sayings doings contrary to his decrees borowed out of fathers The verdict of Iohn Caposius against Pope Innocentius verified in the rest of the Popes The savings of Pope Nicolas and others presumptuous against Princes The sayinges of Aug. Steuchus out of the Popes Register for the claime of an vniuersal dominion ouer al the west church The special claime made of Spaine England c. A Seminary or School of Englishmen at Rome erected long since The doings and practise of Popes agreeable to his owne proud sayings and brags The plagues and iudgements of God against these proud priests of Rome and their factours and. Adherents The periury of Papists notably punished by Turkes The Turk better in this matter of faithfulnes then the Pope The hand of God vppon Popes by themselues one vppon another Athenians Romans are mouÌ„ting Eagles but plucked The monster in Pope Iulius time a figure of this monstrous Popedome Popes enemies to Fraunce and yet Fraunce a friende to Popes OVT OF THE FIFT SERMON THE vnthankefulnes of people against Magistrats Lawes of Canutus Edgar and Alured Richard the first and others in England Disobedience against the Lawes in England England subdued by Iul. Caesar Danes Saxons and that cheifely by discord and treachery of our owne countrimen A terrible example of periury Traisons in the time of diuers Kings in England punished Treachery and prodition by an Italian in betraying Calice to the French Auncient practises of English Rebells for the defense of their Popish religion and yet frustrated vain A concubinary Priest and traitour made a Martyr of the Popish people in England Welch prophecies defeated Traisons of Bishoppes Abbats Priors Minorite Friars Monkes and Priestes in England and some executed in their best habit of Religion New traitors for the Religion of the Pope in the time of K. Henry the 8. K. Edward the 6. and of Queene Elizabeth rebelling rising but had alway a â—al an euil end The Queens maiesty foloweth the example of her Ancestors in this Realme resisting the pride authority of the Pope OVT OF THE 6. SERMON FOrreine examples in Fraunce and Flaunders The law of Conscience the last and worst witnes and tormentour of murderers and Traitors Of the trembling and terrour of an euill conscience in this Act. Dogges Fishes Swallowes rauens al creatures terrifie astonish a murdering and guilty conscience The conclusion of the first part of Dauids reply against Abishai 2 The second part is Dauids Protestation in himself detesting that fact with the reason annexed that god hath waies to kill Saul at his pleasure and therfore he wil not take vpon him gods office in that behalfe Death common to all and of the late mortalitie among vs. The vanity of this world and end of all flesh wee are all the naked image of Hippocrates Infants and yongest must die The great personages Saul and such Princes must dy by one of three kinds of death set downe by Dauid and vnder that his diuision manie are comprehended The death of persecutours and traitours Their brauerie and bragges against the godly but all in vaine Examples thereof ould and fresh in memorie No Eloquence can saue from death The Pope that deliuereth others out of purgatorie and by battle Bul killeth Princes cannot deliuer himself froÌ„ death whereof he is warned by his owne ceremonies and it maie appeare by the end of many Popes speciallie euen in the very Act of their rage against Princes Albeit these wicked men must die as Saul did yet the godlie delight not in their death no more then Dauid did in the death of Saul
heade springing as a supply to the rest The spiritual sword Excommunication of Princes The 3. ExcoÌ„mmunication interdictment of Realmes condemning all that bee not at his beck to the bottomlesse pit of hel As Boniface the eighth excommunicated Philip King of France because he would not honor worship him nor acknowledge him to be his Land Lord in the Kingdom of France In this action he curseth and banneth hee absolueth and blesseth and yet this absolution is not woorth a straw nor his curse more to be feared of a wise King then the noise of a tumbrel or a rattle as that Noble Prince of Orenge did wel account and boldly protest Jn Apolog. Besides these 4. Deposing of Princes another cruell Buls heade groweth out forthwith by a Bull to depose ex officio pro imperio a Christian Prince So it pleased Pope Zachary to throwe out King Childerick and Pope Gregory the fourth King Ludowick â—â—ug Steuc contra Vall. Pope Pius the Queenes Maiesty releasing the people from al bands of loyalty and subiection with a full licence of rebellion but this was but a word no blow God sometime giueth that spirite to Prince and people that these proceedings take no place then an other heade starteth vp 5. Priuie practises Priuie murdering authorised as lawefull by this Antichristian Prelate Secretlie and subtillie this Popishe Hydra woorketh with poison with pistol with gunne with sword with tooles of Death all framed in the shoppe of the lame Smithe Vulcan Vasa morâ—ia nay rather in the fornace of the Diuel as the Massacres and murders of manie Honorable worthie men in manie places do testifie In fraunce the murder of Prince of Conde after he was taken prisoner contrarie to the law of armes of the Admiral Chatellion shot thorowe in the streats and murdered in his chamber of Dandalot of Ramus after he had giuen a certain summe of crowns to saue his life of Marlorate walking in his gardeÌ„ of an other preacher killed in the pulpit In Scotlande the murder of the King of the Lorde Iames of the Lord Russell In the lowe cuntries the murder of the Prince of Orenge who first was perscribed and proclaimed a Traitor and an hereticke with this large promise that whosoeuer could bring him quicke or dead or kill him In 〈◊〉 seâ— proscriptionâ— should haue fiue and twentie thousand crowns in money or land And if he were meanly borne he shoulde be made a gentleman and if he had committed any faulte neuer so heynous he should be pardoned These be horse-leaches that drawe bloude Prou. 30. and haue neuer enough Al these actions haue been here attempted in these steppes hath this Monster walked among vs which all sauour of violence oppression murdering of the Lordes annointed and of his Saints The reason of this Action is set downe by August Steuchus Contr. Laâ— Vall. descending from the roote of an erronious opinion Contra Haereticos opus est fustibus non Anathematis quae contemnunt The Hereticks contemne the Popes curses they must be beaten downe with clubbes To accomplish these fierce 6. Heade â—f craft and periâ—â—â—â— Original of the rest and forcible actions there is ioined another craftie head of this monster and now lately and principally by Iesuits hauing Commission from Rome to teach periury and disobedience to Princes to promise faire to performe nothing to dispraise the state to magnify the Pope to tell the subiects in their eare a tale of a tub of a Catholicke Church and a Catholick faith of pardons by their Agnus Dei masses Confessions and of many other goodly bables of saluation by their tradition of damnation by our religion which is nothing but lying cogging and deceiuing the simple This quality and counterfaite Religion hath bin told before in an exhortation to Princes It is most euident that there is no part of the Christian woorlde In fasâ—ic rer expeâ—eÌ„dar coÌ„tra decimas which hath not bene craftily tempted by these kind of Monsters that many Kings and Princes haue been fraudulently circumuented by them And againe They know how to deceiue notably to circumuent to forswear to forge testaments to prophane diuine and humane thinges to make strife to trouble the quiet to confouÌ„d heauen with earth There is yet to make vp 7 deadly sins the seuenth head a Magical head The 7. the heade of witchcraft woorking by witchcraft sorcery for as he wil coÌ„secrat so hee can inchaunt as blesse so poison the creatures of God for the dispatch of Princes Alphonsus a learned Prince but God is aboue Belzebub Alphonsus wheÌ„ his enemy Cosmas a Florentine sent him for a present the books of Titus Liuius and his Phisition counsailed him not to handle them as sent from an enemy for fear of poison or infection Doe you not know saith he that the souls and liues of kings are not subiect to the will of priuate men Aeneas sylde dictis Alphoâ— but safe and secure vnder the prouidence and carefulnes of god Cor corpus Regis in manu Domini Prou. 21. The heart and the body of a king is in the hand of the Lord. These and such like heady actions are in this realme continually practised which may witnesse to the world what monstrous religion the Pope bringeth and brocheth to vs. No maruel if the first part be naught and his faith corrupt sith the second his fruites and actions be so abhominable The Pope is like Martiall Marius Marius the great Captaine of Rome was woont to saie That he could not hear the voice of Lawes among the peales of gunnes the noise of drumslats and sound of trumpets The Pope that is so busie so occupied in bloody and Martiall matters and coÌ„spiracies hath no leisure to study or hear or preach the Law of God or to aduaunce the Gospel of Peace in Christ Iesus I haue Right Honorable entred into the consideration confutation of both these parts of popery in other books but now seing daily the present perilous practises of the later both here elswher setting aside for the time the first concerning the Pope his Iesuitical doctrin I haue lately trauailed somewhat in the second opening to my countrimen their frontick and bloody dealings and calling them by al meanes of persuasion as I could to conformity and due obedience to the Prince and to the loue of their owne country for the common safety and preseruation of vs all in body and soul Alas who would haue thought that there should haue beene any need to haue either spoken or written of this matter to English Subiects liuing so long vnder a gratious peaceable gouernement farre passing the times past and the like not to be hoped for after it Who would haue thought that any Englishe and Christian man woulde haue once muttered or murmured against such a Prince for countries sake to bee loued for religion to be obeied
The compassion and sorrow of good Princes Pagans Christians and of Queene Elizabeth in the death of the traitours and offendours that suffer An admonition to traitors and offenders yet liuing The death of good Princes is of necessitie but yet a plague to common weals and to the church Mutations and changes perilous Praier for the good Princes OVT OF THE SEVENTH SERMON A Question whether the Papists be the authors of these troubles and tragedies against Princes or Protestants The resolution is flat against Popes the trumpets of sedition The sturre betwixt the Pope Paschal and Henrie the 5. the murderer of his father The detestation of these Traitours by a few moe examples of Iewes Romanes Hungarians of Danes The cause of these practises against good gouernours is their goodnes and Gods cause the second cause in the practisers is their ignorance Christ and his gospel a stumbling stone The lot of the Prince and the Prophet is to be hated for their Religion The third part of Dauids diuision his politick and prouident Resolution The prouidence of god gathered out of the circumstance of the text threefold The first part Gods special care prouidence and protection of Princes as here of Saul Murmurers mutterers alwaies against rulers against Moses though no ruler then yet appointed by god against Dauid and Christ And yet all these and others were preserued vntil their time appointed as appeareth by the notable examples of Cyrus Romulus Seruius Tullius Constantine Antonine Vespasian Waldemar Lodouicke Charles 5. Henry 4. and by authorities The second prouidence of god ouer Dauid and his church and euery member thereof A comfortable doctrine to the elect and godly who somtimes stagger seeing their affliction and the prosperity of the godles The meane that God vseth here to preserue is a deadly sleepe God hath many waies of deliueraunce comprehended in two general waies by Origen declared by examples The prouidence of God defined by Aquinas The decree of man and the determinations of god contrary Prince and preacher must run their course without stop The third kind of prouidence for temporall things Murmurers in this point God◠prouidence reacheth to the godly and to the followers of the word and religion Almunition of Roialms al promotion of men from God Contrariwise sinne the cause of diuision between God vs and the only impediment and hindraunce of his carefulnes and prouidence The purity of Christians in the time of Constantine and Traian The care of her Maiesty and her honorable Counsail in the time of dearth A Citation and summoning of England to iudgement for sin in al Estates Magistrates and Cleargy people Two sorts of men specially offending irreligious and superstiously religious The waie of reconcilement to god is a general reformation of al and repentaunce Faultes escaped correct thus Pag. 49. Lin. 5. Falerians P. 107. L. 28. Prodition P. 116. L. 12. Detestable P. 117. L. 3. Inestimable P. 147. L. 24. Procession P. 171. 18. put out Of. 1 SAM 26. VER 8. Abishai said to Dauid God hath closed thine enemy into thine hande this day now therefore I pray thee let me finite him once with a spear to the earth and I wil not smite him againe c. THE FIRST SERMON IN the beginning of this Chapiter wee haue Saul persecuting and Dauid persecuted the Ziphians discouering him Dauid his espies Saul sleeping with his souldiours the comming of Dauid with Abishai to Sauls campe in the night and nowe in this part of Scripture we heare the conference and disputation of Abishai and Dauid The argument and question is whether Saul the king may bee lawefully slaiue by them his subiectes or no As the persons are two A generall diuision of the Text. so are the partes of this speach two first Abishai the Opponent obiecteth and defendeth the Affirmatiue requesting withall that hee may kil him Secondly Dauid the Respondent holdeth the Negatiue denying that act to be lawful A matter in mine opinion most necessary for Preachers to entreate of and for vs all to heare and consider of in these daies when subiects vtterly forgette their duety and reuerence which they owe to the sacred Maiesty of Princes and to all lawfull Magistrates A thing long since prophecyed of by God in his holy word and in al ages detested of the better sort Iesaiah among other things prophecieth that the boy shal presume against the Auncient Iesaia c. 3 the vile against the honorable Paul also prophecieth of these later times ◠Tim. 3. that men shall bee fierce enimies of the good traitors headdy high-minded The hainousnes hereof both Heathen and Christians haue abhorred The mistocles a notable captaine being banished from his vnthankeful country by the Athenians entertained of Xerxes King of the Persians was willed according to his promise to subdue Graecia vnto his Empire but rather then hee woulde betray his country hee dranke vp a bole ful of Buls bloud Plutarch and so after his sacrifices and prayers to his Gods gaue vp the ghost Vsthazares chamberlaine to Sapor King of the Persians beeing apprehended for his confession of Christ and refusing to woorship the Sunne their God Sor. lib. 2. cap. 9. doth onely make this petition to the King that by the voice of a cryer it might be proclaimed signified to al men Vsthazares is beheadded not for any treasō or crime in the Kings court but that he is a Christian and refusing to obey the king cannot abide to deny his God So much was the very name of a traitor abhorred of thē Now seeing the enormity of the fault necessity of the time giue me leaue to speake to you as Bernarde once did in the like case vnto the Romanes Epist 24◠departing from the Pope Eugenius When the heade a keth dooth not the toung cry for al the partes of the body that they ake also with the head Ego corporis membrum minimum As he so I the smallest and simplest member of our bodie craue leaue to vtter our common griefe for the heade and Soueraigne of this Realm of late without cause troubled and assaulted by open and priuy practises of such as ought to haue been true subiectes and faithful countrymen And for this purpose haue I chosen this parcell of Scripture in the which wee may first learne the wickednes it selfe in the person of Abishai and next in the person of Dauid a controulment and a confutation of it as in the Sermons following shall be declared Touching the first when hath there not bin an Abishai Naie some worse then Abishai seekers and suckers of bloud 1 Part. Abishai would haue Saul a wicked persecutor dispatched out of the waie Treason auncient and news others conspire against the godly and innocent Abishai vseth more good maner in asking leaue of Dauid others headdily attempt the same consulting nether with God nor with good men but only with their owne frontike pates or
Emperour out of this life or bring him into the low order and base and bare condition of a priuate man In viâ—a Henâ— 4. not remembring that they did owe a peace vnto their country-men iustice to the Realme and fidelity to the Ring So far were these from the rule of obedience that desirous of their licentiousnes woulde hazard the seruitude of the country The desier of lucre is another motiue to treason 2. Couâ—â—â—â—nesse It was the couetous question of Iudas Quid vultis mihidare What will ye giue me Which maketh a number of malecontentes seditious troublers of a common-weale for apriuate commodity So that now the case is as in the time of Dauid When the Prince studieth peace Psal 110. and speaketh peaceablie they are ready to fight Their feete are swifte to shed bloode nay they knowe not the waie of peace Rom. 3. They will neither knowe nor haue peace They seem to be kinned to that mad souldiour that passing by the Church hearing them pray for peace Donanobis pacem was angry with them Phy quoth he Peace Manliue how shuld we liue Such a Prince Cor. Agrippa telleth of in Italy who being moued by the said Agrippa to take awaie that famous or rather infamous faction of Gibellines and Guelphians in his Territory Naie not so quoth hee confessing plainly it was not for his profit for that ther was brought into his coffers yearely about twelue thousand ducats by occasion of this faction De vanâ—scienti This greedines is the cause that many being now become bankerupts vnthrifty born to consume to spend the fruits of the earth think by mutations and chaunges to recouer and to licke themselues whole This is the cause that mooueth some to fly from their countrie and captaines to serue straungers contrarie to the Law of GOD and man Nemo miles ab imperatore extraneo stipendium accipit saith Chrysoftome No man taketh wages of a forraine king or Emperor How much more wicked is it for Christians professing the gospel to be in seruice vnder the coÌ„duct banner of a stranger both in nation and in religion that for mony bloud-gilt the reward of Iudas Quidagis Christiane sidomini hosteÌ„ amicum habueris what dost thou o christian what auaileth thee if thou hast the enemy of the Lord to be thy friend The same Chrysostome hath these words in an homily De proditione Iuda There is a third kind of couetousnes not of these meane things but an insatiable desire of honor principality soueraignty Iulius Caesar imagining or rather dreaming of such a thing â—â—â—ic offi 1. for a kingdom a Monarchy brake the laws of God man This is pride and presuÌ„ption when men wil not be content with Dauid to tary their time but wil adueÌ„ture by hook or crook by right by wrong to surmount 〈◊〉 lib. Dorâ—â—i securè â—â—rm 6 I reade of the Romans that they painted pride with a triple crowne Pope-like because as R. Holcot testifieth Holcot fol. 23â— the proud man wil ouerrule al his equals his inferiours his superiours The first crowne hath this title Transcendo I surmount the second Non obedio I disobey the third Perturbo I trouble all which in verse is expressed somewhat otherwise in Holcot Effluo transcendo quo quis priuatur babendo TraÌ„smigrat genus exceditque homo qui nec obedit Turbor affligor perturbor vndiquelaedor Meaning therby that those that wil be climing transcendent and disobedient and troublesome must finde trouble and affliction themselues Another motiue of these rebellious interprises is Enuie Ingratitude 3. Enuie Enuie is a smoke that caÌ„ not abide the brightnes of good proceedings of her Maiesty that goeth about to smother obscure the blessings of God shining among vs in al prosperity felicity in the time of her gouernment Liuor tabificâ—m malis venenum Virgil. It is a poisoÌ„ that gnaweth coÌ„sumeth the vugodly that caÌ„not abide the happy estate by which we enioy the gospel al spiriual consolation by which we haue the fruitioÌ„ of peace plenly if our sinfulnes vnthankfulnes do not abbridge vs. Promeritis male tractarunt Agamemnona Graeci The vnkind dogges monstrously rent Acteon their master Plutâ—â—â— Inuidia The ougly toad cannot abide the good sent of florishing vines Cantharides green worms though they haue their being succor in the tops of ashes in oliues sweet roses yet they wil shew their nature their iuice is poison and they wil make blisters tumbling and trouble in the common weat It is to be feared least by their vnthankefulnes and grudging this our prosperous and good estate which we haue many years by Gods goodnes seene felt wil be turned by his heauy displeasure into dearth and scarsity as since these newe traiterous enterprises we may if we be not blind see some experience Our too much plenty heretofore hath made vs wanton new fangled busie bodies not contented with our blessings of Manna as murmuring Israelites preferring before this heauenly felicity the garlick and flesh-pots of AEgypt or rather the burdens of intolerable taske-masters vnder Romish Pharao These benefites and this repining cannot long continue togither by the iustice of God and by the course of naturall thinges Too much rancknes beateth downe the corne and bowes are broken with the burden ouermuch aboundaunce of fruite commeth not to anie ripenesse as wise Seneca writeth euen so our prosperity I feare hath corrupted some of vs. and made vs forgetful of our duty towards God and our Prince Gregory the great when Popes were not so great but did acknowledge the soueraignty of Princes ouer them did wel confesse writing to one Theodore â—pish 103. a Physition in this maner Howe great benefites I haue receiued froÌ„ Almighty God from my most soueraign lord the Emperour my toung is not able to expresse Would to god our GregoriaÌ„s folowers fautors of the Pope wold haue such meditatioÌ„s Another motiue and cause of these stirs 4 Religiâ—â—â— and tumultes is forsooth Religion A straunge Religion doubtlesse that teacheth men to murther Princes and Monarches of the world It was a pretence of Religion in Herod who told the wise men of the East Mat. 2. that hee was desirous to knowe where Christ was that he might worshippe him but his Religion was a ful entent to kill Christ True Religion is euer assaulted and unpugned by a false Religion Haman could not abide good Mardocheus nor the Iewes for their Religion calling their lawes new straunge Hest ca. 3. and differing from all people and so procured from Assuerus the King a bloody decree to destroy al the nation When the Christians in Persia Soz. lâ— c. 7. by reason of acquaintance and conuersation with the Osroens and Armenians had gathered a church and congregation to serue Christ that thing offended the Magicians or wise Diuines of Persia who
by succession as Priestes had the charge ministery of that heathenish Religion It offended also the Iewes so that Christians for their Religion were tormented and good Father Symeon Archbishop of Seleucia was accused to Sapor the King Quasi Regni Religionis Persarum proditor as a spy and a betrayer of the Realme and of the Religion of the Persians reueiling the secretes of Persia to the Emperour of Rome Soz. libae cap. 8. and so was imprisoned and put to death with an hundred Christians The ground of these violences or rather vilanies is Religion But there is a difference betweene the true and false Religion The Religion of Ieroboam was a false and caluish Religion contrary to the Religion of the house of Dauid and therefore he made two calues of goold the one in Bethel the other in Dan made Priestes of the dregges and rascalles of the people 1 King 12. commaunding them that they shoulde no more sacrifice at Ierusalem in the house of the LORD and persecuteth the Prophetes and the professours of the true seruice of GOD. And this was a pretense of Religion But the Religion of Ezechias and of Iosias Kinges of Iuda was good Religion 2. Chron. 29. 35. to pull downe Images and all Idolatrie to restore the Lawe and the Bible of GOD and the true vse of the Sacramentes What other Religion is the Reformation of Queene Elizabeth then this of these Kinges And if their reformed Religion was commended by GOD and of al the godly why should the Religion now receaued from GOD and restored by Queene Elizabeth be condemned May not I iustlie say to the posterity of cruell Saul as Ionathan saide to his Father Saul What harme hath our Dauid doone 1. Sam. 19. more then oulde Dauid then Ezechias then Iosias did Why then will you sinne against innocent bloode and slaie Dauid with-out a cause Why dooth the Popish Saul of Rome the Supreme Vicar of CHRIST persecute the annointed of God and the handemaide of Christ Surely it is hee and none but hee that is Abishai in name The Pops is Abishal in name nature and in deede I saie the Romish Abishai that is the Father of bribes and giftes by corruption a taker and giuer inueigling and perswading the Potentates and people of the world to rebell and to murther the Lordes true annointed to rise and to take weapon against their owne naturall and lawefull Prince It is hee that blesseth and consecrateth with holy water and incense a sworde In defensionem S. Romanae Ecclesiae for the defense of the holy Church of Rome and for the reuenge of the Popes enemies and that in the solemne feast of the Birth of Christ which hee fendeth abroade as a present to some most Christian or most Noble Prince for the protection of his Catholicke Church against the true Catholicke faith of Christ which is not without a mystery Câ—râ— Rom. Eccele lib. 1. Sect. 7. Fogâ—â—rat hic pontificalis gladius potestatem summanâ— temporalem à Christâ— Pontifici eius in terris vicario collatam iâ—xtae illudâ— Data est mihi omnis potest as in caelo interra Eâ—alibi Dominabitur à marivsque ad mare This Pontifical sworde doth signifie the supreme temporal power giuen of Christ to the Bishop his vicar on earth Mat. 28. according to that saying Al power is giuen vnto me in heauen and in earth And in another place You shall haue dominion from sea to sea Behold what a fisher of men Peters successour is that fisheth for the dominion of all the woorld all is fish that commeth to his nette where with he draweth to himselfe that which is properly and truely spoken of Christ by Dauid vnles hee will also haue that which followeth That al kings shal adore Psal 72. and worshippe him and that his kingdome is eternall and before the Sonne But he wil prooue in the ende to bee that foolish fisher in Theocritus that dreamed he had caught a golden fish and waking he got not so much as a frog It is that Abishai that likewise scattereth abroade in Lent his consecrated golden roses to some Princes and also sendeth to the captains or staÌ„derd-bearers of the Church of Rome Ibidem in Câ—rem his banners and armour likewise hallowed at a masse It is he that sendeth souldiors signed with the Crosse against Christian Emperours as against Frederike the Emperour who dooth signify to the King of England treasons conspiracies against him Jn Hem. 3. The practisers whereof being beseiged Matth. Paris were accompanied with Fryers and by them receiued the signe of the Crosse against him pretending the authority of the high Bishop by his Apostolicke letters ac praedictae mortis exhaeredationis nostrae summum Pontificem Greg. 9. sic asserunt incentorem affirming that the Supreme Byshoppe of Rome was the author of his disinheritaunce and destruction This Byshoppe of Rome taking occasion of the absence of Frederike being nowe in the seruice of Christ against the Turke as well to perfourme his vow in visiting the holie land as also to please the Pope notwithstanding this his daungerous viage and humble obedience he tooke from him his land in Apulia and Lombardie And when Frederike sent letters vnto the Pope of the honorable peace betwixt him and the Soldan wherein hee was forced to surrender vnto the saide Christian Emperour Ierusalem whereof he was crowned King and many other cities and wished him to publish that great ioy vnto all Christendome and to thanke GOD for that glorious victorie hee refused it and cast awaie the letters excommunicateth Frederike graunteth the Crosse and the crossed warre-fare against him as against an Infidel and Turke who at his commaundement fought valiauntly against the Turke Hee gaue out also at one time this false Alaram that he was dead and the souldiours of Germany and France that returned from the holy land hee put to cruell death that they should not tell the truth all which things wee may read in Carion Cuspinian and in Abbat Vrspergensis Lib. 3. And here the Author exclaimeth not without cause Who rightly considering such factes Ann. 1228. dooth not lament and detest them which seeme to bee signes and certaine prognostications of the ruine of the Church Greg. 9. The same Gregory by letters priuilie desireth the Soldan not to yeelde vp the holie land vnto the Emperour but as an enimie to kill him Cuspinian Against Friderick whosoeuer would fight had a pardon a promise of life euerlasting He about that time coÌ„manded to bee sung Salue Regina But beholde more faith charitie in the Turke then in the Pope for wheÌ„ the SoldaÌ„ had receiued letters from the Hospitalars TeÌ„plaries how Friderick might be taken he detesting this treasoÌ„ sent the letters vnto Friderick said vnto his own Counsailers Ecce fidelitas Christianorum Behold the fidelity of Christians A vile and
the same Popish decrees it is called a wicked promise which is fulfilled wickedly and in a Councel we are taught 〈◊〉 â—onsil â—â—ibert that an vnaduised determination may lawfully and laudably bee broken neither is it a transgression but a correction of rashnesse If any vow haue beene made among our countrymen you see it ought in no wise to be stoode too and I desire them so to thinke and doe For so thought Dauid when he sware by God to kill that great foole Nabal yet Ensem in vaginám reuocauit hee put by his sworde in the sheath at the request of Abigael and was not sory for that periury as it is wel applied by Beda Hom. 44. EueÌ„ as the same Ambrose exhorteth that a maÌ„ shal promise no vnhonest thing Libro Offic. 3. cap. 13. or if hee hath promised it is more tolerable not to keep promise then to do that that is vnhonest Which sentences euen the Popes Lawe reciteth C. 22. Q. 4. but falsly cites the first booke for the third But if any Papist either of scruple in mind conscience either of good nature or rather grace of God cannot be induced to communicate with such traiterous enterprises alleadging their duty former oth made to Princes in the league of association otherwise theÌ„ the Pope hath this religioÌ„ omnipotency that he can wil dispeÌ„se with any oth Plat. Adrian the Pope the fourth of that name excoÌ„municated WilliaÌ„ King of Sicily and assoiled al those that were subiect to his gouernmeÌ„t froÌ„ the oth of obedience that they might being freed froÌ„ that the sooner reuolt froÌ„ him Pope Innocent the 3. Cuspini in Frideric 1. in a couÌ„cel at Lions for hatred he bare against Frederik the 2. depriued him of al Imperiall dignity gaue an absolutioÌ„ to the Princes froÌ„ the oth of fidelity exhorting theÌ„ to chuse another al this is catholick and current religion at Rome is auouched good doctrine from Peter and Paul the Patrones of that Church O blessed Saint Peter saieth Gregory the seuenth I depose Henry the fourth from al Imperial and regal authority Plat in vita Gregor who hath lifted vp his hande too boldly and rashly against thy Church and I doe release his loial leige people of their oth You haue heard of Thomas Becket our countryman a man like Mercury in Aristophanes In Pluto a man of all artes and occupations a courtiar a clerk an Arch-Bishop by his hair cloth a Monk by his inwardest garmeÌ„t nighest to his skin an Heremite a man that first sware the oth of fidelity to Henry the secoÌ„d the same man was the first that brake it by a dispensation of Alexander the Pope ad soluendam Iâ—â—â—â—â—â— Thomae Beckes quà m ad confirmandam fidem promptior a better Schoolemaster of periury then of obedience and this prodition was such a religion that by the Monkes of Caunterbury it was praised and approued This is a right Supremacy to doe and vndo what he listeth this is the pride and the cruelty of the Romish Abishai against the Lordes annointed not fearing to violate the maiesty of Princes to breake oathes to teach disobedience and wilful periuries and al this hee may doe absolutely by his new religion and large commission You vnderstand by the premisses the effect of the first part the meaning of the first persoÌ„ Abishai al tending to the death of the Lordes annointed You vnderstand the predecessours and successours of Abishai in number to bee many in maner of attempting to be violent fierce or else hypocriticall and flattering and the causes mouing them to be either couetousnes catching either ambition aspiring eyther enuy maligning either religioÌ„ pretensed or some such like As I reported before in the beginning out of Bernard to the Romans so in the conclusion out of the same Epistle I speak to the Romanists You foolish Romanists Epist 242. doe you neither iudge nor discern that which is honest Doe you disgrace and dishonor as much as in you is your owne head and the head of vs al for whome you ought not to spare your own necks if need should require I end with this good note of the saide Bernard I knewe once saith hee in Babylon at the voice of one young man that al the people which were deceiued by the vniust Seniors of the city to condemne Susanna did returne to Iudgement and reuerse it and so that innocent bloud was saued that daie I pray God that you of whom I conceiue well and others who may be suspected elsewhere may harken with indifferent eares if not at the voice of Daniel yet at our dayly motion that you wil auoide the deuise of Abishai that you wil not be seduced by the false ould iudges of Israel that you wil not condemne our Susanna rashly and without al cause but abhor al wicked conspiracies mutinies practises against her Maiesty whom the Lorde preserue many years among vs that she may attaine that happines which wise Thales spake of Principis faelicitas vt senex secundum naturaÌ„ in suo lectulo moriatur this God grant Raph. Volaâ— in Philol. 30. that she may haue that felicity of a Prince to dy according to nature in her bed an old Mother in our Israel and after liue and raigne eternally with him to whom I commit you and to him be al honor and praise world without end Amen 1. SAM 26. And Dauid said to Abishai Destroy him not for who can laie his hand on the Lords annointed and bee guiltlesse c. THE SECOND SERMON HERODIAN an Historiographer coÌ„plaineth that it was an old disease amoÌ„g the GraeciaÌ„s Lib. 3. that they were alwaies amoÌ„g them-selues at discorde and were willing to destroy those that seemed to excel others and so in the end coÌ„sumed Greece A fatal matter a mortal sin is sedition reckoned woorthily among the works of the flesh tied and chained altogether as it were with a lincke in the Epistle to the Galathians The woorks of the flesh are hatred debate Cap. 5. wrath contentions dissensions sects enuy murders al of one cognation and kinred This sedition is and euer hath bin not only in Greece but by sundry makebates at al times and in al places by Abishai in Iury as you lately heard coÌ„spiring against King Saul and by others against Dauid himselfe as he thus lamenteth Psal 71. Mine enemies speake against me they that lay wait for my soul take their counsail together saying God hath forsakeÌ„ him persecute take him for ther is none to deliuer him I haue also declared that the Romanists their Prelats haue bin Graecians in this behalfe consenting with Abishai against Saul nay Dauid and made much trouble in the common-weal ChristiaÌ„ churches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they haue wasted our Greece most parts in christendom absoluing al ecclesiastical laymen froÌ„ their othes made to their lawful
a Traytor of the King of England a most wicked Pirat as it is in another history taÌ„quam de Monacho factus Daemoniachus as it were of a Monk made a Demoniacal man and possessed of a Diuel But this diuelish man was drawn out of the pump of the ship where he hid himselfe and his ende was the chopping off of his head by the hande of the Earle of Cornwal Richard the Kings brother carried to the King Maâ— Daâ—â—â— in Heâ—â—â—â— and so to diuerse places of the Realme which the Moucke woulde haue redeemed with an mestimate masse of money but coulde not Adam Adam the Byshop of Hereford was accused of treason and yet was protected by the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury of Yorke and of Dublin Th. Walsing in 〈◊〉 wardoâ— and of ten other Bishops and with violence and with the Arch-bishops crosses was pluckt out from the place of iudgement but afterwards being found guilty by the sworne Iurie of all the crimes obiected was so pronounced his goods confiscated the traiterous and horned Priests blancked for so these verses signifie Nostri cornuti sunt consilio quasi muti Sunt quasi consusi decreto legis abusi This Adam as this history reporteth was arrested openly in the Parlament at London to the great reproch of the cleargy and preiudice of the whole church of England Against Henry the fourth Conspiratours against Heâ— the 4. what conspiracies were there not by Earls and specially by Cleargy men whose meaning was sodenly at the castle of Winsor in the time of Christmasse plaies to rush in to kill him his children but their Christmas py was a deadly pie to them some ran away to London and so ment to passe beyond the sea but the wind being against them they were taken and beheadded The cleargy men Maude Ferby Maudlin Maude and William Ferbie were hanged drawen and beheaded at London others at Oxford The Priest of Ware that had matriculated in a roole the names of the conspirators whereof some were innoceÌ„t had the same iudgement The Prior of Laune once Canon of Dunstable Walter Baldock a Prior. Walter Baldocke confessing himselfe to be priuy to it for conceiling it was hanged so were the Minorit Friers euen in the habit of their religion Friers An Abbat of Westm As for the Abbat of Westminster a chiefe stickler in this matter in whose house after the feast this conspiracy was deuised was by God himselfe stricken with a palsey and by by was dum and so died At the same time Thomas Walsingham writeth of Owen Glendar a Welch man Owen de Glendour In Henr. 4. a rebel against the same King intending by his Magicall coniuration to kill the King the Diuel so working by raine winde snowe haile stones and al tempests against the King and his camp Jbidem Fuerunt plures si fas sit credere qui dicerent haec aduersa arte fratrum Minorum contra Regem fuisse commentata It was a common rumour then that Friers hauing familiarity with Diuels wrought brought al these miseries against the King as friendes to the Welch but you heard how the Diuell was ouertaken by God The Minorites executed by the King in their best and most holy weedes and so Owen Glendar in the absence of the King following his prophecy wandred miserably vp and downe in the desert and in solitary places by penury and hunger pined away The like iudgement fel vpon Falcasius a rebel against Henry the third of a great rich man so miserably poore that he in banishment begged his bread in Fraunce and had not a bolster to lay his head vpon I might haue reckoned vp many Iackes as Iacke Strawe Th. Walsingham n. Hypod. Neusiriâ— or Wat Tiler Iack Miller Iacke Carter against King Richard the second and also Iack Cade of Kent who was in a cart brought to London taken before in a garden in Sussex and his head set on London bridge his quarters sent into Kent in the time of Henry the sixt but these are matters of rebellion indeede but not so much for Religion which is my purpose and chiefe scope And yet all these drink of one cup bitter enough here for such and most bitter in the life to come Now to come nearer vnto our time memory Late Popish traytours for their Religion R. Holinsh in Henr. 8. Rebellions for religion vndeâ— Henr 8 our Popish Traitours haue had no better successe In the raigne of Henry the eight by Parliament the Lords praier and the ten commandements were decreed to be learned in English for this good seruice to God and to the common weal the blind people seduced by blind guides Monks Priests made a commotion in Lincolne shier In Lincolne shiere God fought for his cause for his King and gaue to him the victory The multitude by proclamation was pardoned a new oath of fealty to the King receiued Captaine Cobler Doctor Mackarel a Monke named Doctor Mackarel and others put to death How fel it out in the North by their religious rebellion In the North an holy pilgrimage It was forsooth for the Cacholicke Church It was called a holy blessed pilgrimage In their banners was painted Christ hanging on the Crosse a Chalice with a painted cake in the sleeues of the souldiours were embrodered the fiue wounds of our Sauior But God ouerturned al their purposes and they were supplaunted and by a floud on Simon Iudes Euen their heat was cooled A butcher a Priest executed and a butcher at Winsor wishing that these good fellowes of the North had some carkases of his sheepe with a Priest procured to preach in fauour of Rebels were adiudged to dy by Law Martial Good king Edward the sixt proceeded in zeale as his father began Rebellions for religion in the time of Edwa. 6. Jn Cornewall and more sincerely reformed religion but alas in Cornewall and Deuonshire it was not brooked nor digested the king his Commissioner in Cornwall was slaine but God did not suffer it is remaine vnreuenged a Priest was taken and executed in Smithfield by Law In Deuonshiere they did rise for the six Articles In Deuonshiere they would haue Masse holy water holy bread but they wilfull men lacked all they famished for want of bread The Lorde Russel the Lorde Grey the kings army ouercame them Sir Peter Carewe and Gawine and other faithfull subiects with the city of Exceter perseuering true and loyall were rewarded highly commended but Welch vicar of Saint Thomas in Exceter a newe reformer of religion was hanged vp in chains vpon the top of the church with his sacring Bel holy water bucket and sprinkle beeds and other Popish trash the chiefe captaines most disloial carried to London to be executed In Northfolke was another rebellion of such as partly were deceiued In Northfolke or not throughly persuaded in religion they had an
of the people continued stil at his deuotion making his confession vnto God by the thrust of a sworde and by shedding his innocent blood was made pium morris sacrificium a sacrifice and a Martyr to God But Blacco the Captaine that first rushed into the Church made the people in that holy place to shed blood euen in the first entraunce of the Church was first of al murdered as a sacrilegious man towards God and a Parricide towards his King the people afterward repented them of their rashnes tooke this Canutus to be a Saint What should I speak of others rather wolues and vipers dogs then men who thus brutishly deuise say and do against the Lords annointed Is not this woluish foxy generation yet aliue Haue they not doe they not stil practise against our Soueraign notwithstanding the examples of Gods seuerity in al times and countries neither looking backward toward the punishmeÌ„t passed in Iury in Italy in Greece in Flanders in France in Hungary in Denmarke and here in England neither looking for-ward on the iudgements to come And what is the cause Onely this in Tertullian Bonus vir Caius Seius Ju Apoâ—â— sed malus â—antùm quia Christianus Item alius Ego Luciune sapientem virum repentè Christiaâ—um factum defero Caius Seius is a good man but he is an il man only because hee is a Christian man And another saith and confesseth Lucius to bee a wise man but sodenly made a Christian man the one they cannot but praise the other they tel as newes of dispraise I say with Tertullian They praise chose things that they know they dispraise those thinges that they knowe not and that thing which they doe knowe because they know not they doe corrupt and man Our Religion is forsooth a cause of their rebellion therefore our Countrymen at home are our enemies Is this newes to you You knowe my Brethren that it is an ould grudge an auncient offense and scandal You know many shal be Offended with Christ Matth. 10.1 Pet. 2. Matth. 21. Luc. 2. You knowe the Scriptures Christ shal bee the stone of offense and the rocke of scandal The stone cast away of the builders and Priests set to be the ruine resurrection of many Christ and Christes annointed haue this portion the inheritaunce of the Crosse euen for Christes Crosse sake The Kinges of the earth bande themselues Psal 2. and the Princes are assembled together against the Lorde and against his Christ Psal 3. And againe How many rise against mee The Prince and the Prophet haue this lot King Cyrus had displeasure of the Babylonians for defending Daniel his religion They say the King is become a Iewe he hath abolished Bel killed the dragon slain Priests and they flocke together to the King saying Giue vs Daniel or woe will kil thee with all thy house In Histor Bel. Daniel likewise is laide waite for by the Princes and nobles he is complained of to Darius because they found him making praiers and supplâ—cation to his God As Daniel so the rest of the Apostles and Prophets and why Serpens hostis est contrarius veritati Daniel 6. In Ezeâ—â— Homâ— Actorâ—â— as Origen replieth The Serpent is an enemy contrary to the truth Which of the Prophetes haue not your fathers persecuted smdâ— blessed Stephen and therefore was stoned The Propher Icremy was mocked continually stricken of the Priest Pashur Cap. â—0 Dorotheâ—â—â— in synopsi Origen in Matth cap. 13. and in the end murdered and in AEgypt stoned by the people Esay for the truth was cut in peeces by his countrymen Zachary for the truth was slaine betweene the Temple and the Altar The Thessalonians for the truth suffered euen of their owne countrymen 1. Thessal cap. 2. And Origen maketh this coniecture that Paul preaching euery where yet hee prenched not at Tharsis in his coutry Sciens Propheram experteÌ„ esse honoris inpropria patria because Paul did knowe that a Prophet was not honoured in his owne countryâ—â—◠〈◊〉 for this cause the Apostle forsooke Israel and said Act. câ—â—â—â— Because you cast vs out iudge your selues vn worthy of euenlasting life behold we turn to the Gentils The Gospell could haue no place miracles could take no effect in Christs countrie whereof he complaineth in his Euangelisles Mat. 13 Math. 6. Luc. 4. Matthe we Marke and Luke I speake not this of you dearelie beloued whose zeale in Religion is knowne and I hope will continue and increase more and more but I speak it with griefe of minde by this common practise and experience oftimes fearing our countrimen that euen now begin to reuolt in hart and a great number in bodie who withdraw themselues from our Church from our Sermons and Seruice and Sacramentes and from their obedience tâ— God their Prince and from all pierie towarâ—s their Pâ—â—iaâ—â— and Country Christ banished daily conspiring and all for Christ and his Gospel whom they would banish and like Herodians extinguish among vs 〈◊〉 but if he be banished it is no shâ—â—le for vs to be banished with him It is he to whoÌ„ we must cleanâ— by life or by death It is his cause her is able and willing to defend it He is our friend and Protector against at traitours and enemsies whereof now by order I must speake as followeth in the Text. As Dauld hither to hath made a prohibitioÌ„ to Abishai The third part of D. politick Resolution and also hath protested for himself saying The Lord keepe me for laying mine hands vpon the Lordes annointed So now he goeth forward with his politick and prouident resolution beginning here I pray thee take now the speare that is at his head and the pot of water and let vs go hence and so foorth as you may see in the eleuenth twelfth verses this is the third part of Dauids aunswere and of my diuision In which part as many good notes may be made and many pointes of doctrine may bee gathered as Dauids humble request to Abishai and his poliey in taking away the spear and the pot for considerations and the drowsines of the enemies so I rest only vpon this common place the Prouidence of God that threefold taken out of the circumstaÌ„ces First out of the person of Saul Secondly out of the person of Dauid and Abishai A triple prouidence of God Thirdly out of the circumstaunce of the place where they were and of the state they were in at this time Sauls person ministreth occasion to intreat of the protection of Princes of the singular prouidence of God which is a reason forcible to penswade all euill and obâ—â—inate men Gods singular prouidence and care of Princes that they intermeddle not against them of whome the Lord hath fueh an extraordinary special care sâ—nd it is a woonder to see and to heare bowe man not regarding this carefull and watchfuley of the
plagued in the day of the visitation but to Ieremy he said comfortably Be not affraid of their faces for I am with thee Daniel was cast by the Babylonians into the den of Lyons and yet he taught mo then seuenty years Act. 1â— Peter a captiue was appointed by Herode to death but Gods appointment was by an Angel to deliuer him Paul saith All men haue forsaken me but the Lord assisted me strengthned me that by me the preaching might be fully known 2. Tim. 4. and that al the Gentiles should heare and I was deliuered out of the mouth of the Lyon He neuer left preaching from IerusaleÌ„ to IllyricuÌ„ Spain Italy was neuer offred to death til the time of his dissoluing came then he did worthily say of himself I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith Bee therefore of good comfort my brethren Preach the word be instant in season out of season reproue rebuke exhort with al long suffering doctrine for the times are come that he telleth of that man wil not suffer wholesome doctrine yet nothing can hurt or stay you vntill you come to your iourneies ende not only you but all other godly of this realme This Church of England is as mount Sion vnmooueable it shall haue the Queen to be her Nurse the gooly gouernors the faithful ministers during the time set down in God his decree Though Sion say the Lord hath forsakeÌ„ me Esai 49. yet the lord wil be more teÌ„der theÌ„ a womaÌ„ ouer her child nay he assureth vs that he hath grauen vs vpoÌ„ the palme of his hands and that our wals are euer in his sight though the diuel watcheth for vs seeking running about like a roaring Lion Psal 1.25 yet God ouerwatcheth him He neither sleepeth nor stuÌ„breth that keepeth Israel The wilde bore of Rome would enter into this vineyeard but the Lord doth keep him out Ipse faecundat saith Bernard He doth make it fruitfull hee encreaseth it Bernard super Catâ—â—â— sermo 30. cutteth it purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit for howe can he leaue it destitute of his care trauel seing that his right hand hath planted it Only let vs see that it bee not barren by our negligence and then leaue all the rest to his prouidence The third kind of Prouidence may appeare by the circumstance of the place 3. Prouidence in temporall thinges In wildernes Dauid and his army are fed and maintained This temporal prouideÌ„ce also must be learned against those murmurers that say O that we had bin dead in AEgypt when we sate at the flesh-pots when we eate bread our bellies ful now you haue brought vs into this wildernes to kil this whole congregatioÌ„ with famine and hunger Are there not in England Exo. 16.17 murmuring Israelites this day who for a little pinching of penury for lack of corne cry out against God and his word not mindful of the Manna of the dew of heauen of the fat of the earth ministred plentifully vnto them these many years In the yeâ— 1586. was that dearth in this blessed raign of the Queens maiesty And euen in this time of this small dearth there is charitable order taken by her Maiesty and the honorable counsel Plenty neuer more in Poperie then in the year 1587. The cause of this lack is not so much for lacke of graine but for lack of faith religioÌ„ in some of vs towards our God for lack of charity towards the poore in some in lack of obedience towards the Prince in some others for lack of thankfulnes in vs all which vices being reformed in vs we shal haue inough Our forefathers Abraham Isaac Iacob in strange places found a straunge goodnes of God for their prouision which is not vnknowen vnto you Ierome expoundeth a prouerb among the Hebrues In monte dominus videbit i. prouidebit God wil in the mount prouide for his In quaest seu trad Heb. in Genes euen as he prouided for Isaac a Ramme in steed of Isaac As God had mercy vpon Abraham so he wil haue mercy vpon vs. And therefore in signe of this Ram giuen the Iewes are wont euen this day to blow their horn He that prouided for Agar and for Ismael the boy and cast away for lacke of help of man in wildernes He that fed Elias by crowes by a widdow by Angels and Daniel by Abacuc He that was able by Elizeus to heal the waters infected He that saued Ionas in the whales belly He that with a few loaues fishes satisfied such a multitude he hath not he wil not forsake you that professe his word and practise accordingly any Aegypt shall bee scourged Exod. 9. when Israel shall be preserued in Goshen God wil rather transubstantiate al his creatures and make stones bread water wine cause rocks yeeld water rather then you that fear God loue his word should vanish or perish But here I pray you mark Hee that giueth food to cattle to the young Rauens meat he giueth it to them in their manner calling vpon him Psal 147. and the same Lord delighteth onely in theÌ„ that fear him Ose 7. For the strength of Israel is the Law al the safegard of our Israel is the keeping obseruing of the word of God Origen hath Hijs quiin Agone pietatis positi sunt Hoâ—â—il 19. in liâ— Num cap. â—4 conteret sathanam Deus sub pedibus God will treade sathan vnder the feete of them that striue for piety and godlinesse The same Origen giueth vs good coÌ„fort but coÌ„ditional Jbid. ca. 25. Hom. 20. If we want not weapoÌ„s wherwith the Apostle willeth vs to be armed all other dartes cannot pearce vs. If we haue the armor of God Ephes 6. the brest plate of righteousnes the sword of the spirite and aboue al the shield of faith Basil saith No munition or Martiall puislaunce In Psal 32. no walles of cities no army of horse men nor power of foot men no preparatioÌ„ of ships saue a King for God doth appoint Kings and disappoint and depose Exalt not your horne Psal 75. speake not with a stiffe necke for promotion commeth neither from the east nor from the west nor fruÌ„ the south because God is iudge abasing one exalting another And therfore while Dauid is godly doth not transgresse while the people and all liue within their compasse Prouidence of God specially belongeth to the good Dauidians there is no doubt but both in plenty and pouerty dearth death God shal and will giue safe conduict Religion and Piety must be our onely safety and preseruation for against the godly man neither malignant diuel neither any destiny can preuaile So writeth an auncient author Mercurie Trismegistus in Lactantius Dearly beloued let vs be only religious and god alone will succour and shield vs
this pye for he was his owne hangman Cap. 17. But mark in this history another proofe When Ioab asked the messenger that brought woord to him of Absalomes hanging vpon the oake why he did not smite him to the ground that hee might haue had a recompence for it Cap. 18. he auswered as becommeth a faithful priuate man Though I shoulde receiue a thousand Sicles of siluer in my hand yet would I not lay mine hand vpon the Kings Son He wold not touch the Kings son and yet the son did rise against the father how then dare subiects hazard enterprise the like against the lords anointed Dauid weÌ„t further in this point of iustice that hee did not suffer any murther to escape vnpunished against priuate men neither did God suffer those to goe scot-free 1. Reg. c. 2. Abner killed Asael brother to this Abishai and Ioab killed him againe and Dauid cursed Ioab for it and by the fathers appointment Salomon the Sonne put him to death no refuge no sanctuary no Altar could saue him She bah raiseth a power against Dauid 2. Sam. 20. but by the procurement and wisedome of a woman his head was cut off and cast downe to Ioab This history of Dauid alone diligently considered is enough to enstruct vs in our duty towards the Prince and sufficient to proue our proposition that blood requireth blood As these examples among the Iewes doe warne Other laws of God against murder Cap. 21. so the lawes among them warrant the same It is written in Exodus Hee that smiteth à man he dy he shal dy the death which is repeated in Leuiticus and againe in Exodus If a man come presumptuously vpon his neighbor to slay him with guile thou shalt take him from mine Altar Cap. 24. that he may dy A plaine precept we haue against sedition and rebellion in Salomon My sonne fear the Lorde Prou. 24. and the King and meddle not with them that are seditious for their destructioâ— shal rise sodainly and who knoweth the râ—â—ine of them both And in another place Giuâ— not thy waies to destroy Kings Cap. 31. The penalty of this offense felt ambitious Adomas by Salomon executed and the trayterous Priest Abiathar deposed and railing Shimei at length put to death whereof came a good ende Et confirmatum est Regnum in manu Salomonis 1. Reg 2. By this iustice the Kingdome of Salomon was established The Lord graunt of the like cause the like effect among vs. Another Law of God is in the new Testament Lawes and example in the newe Testament Iohn 8 which plainely auoucheth that this murdering commeth from the Diuel and teacheth vs a cleane contrary doctrine to the Romish rebellious religion namely to obey to pray for Princes and to pay duties to them to giue to Cesar that which is Caesars Matth. 22. Cap. 13. Paul to the ould Romanes gaue this lesson to render honour to whom honour is due and fear to whom fear belongeth Cap. 3. and in the Epistle to Tite Admonish those to be subiect to Princes and powers So dooth Peter 1. Pet. 2. Honour the King And in his second Epistle he saith that God doth preserue the vniust vnto the day of iudgement to be punished Cap. 2. chiefly those that walk after the flesh in the lust of vncleannes and despise the gouernment which are presumpteous and stand in their owne conceite and fear not to speak euill of them that are in dignity The like is read in Iudas Iuda Paul acknowledgeth this out of the ould law in the Acts of the Apostles Thou shalt not curse the Prince of the people Cap. 23. Wherupon Chrysostom inferreth this exposition I take it that he did not know at al that he was the Prince of the Priestes otherwise he would haue honoured him Shal I trouble you with the recitall of a fewe examples Theudas made a conspiracy but he was slaint so did Iudas of Galile Act. 5. but he also perished they that obeyed him were scattered abroad I conclude this with the terrible example and ruful end of Iudas the traytour of Iesus Christ his Master forsaken of God and of man of God for that hauing no grace he hanged himselfe of man for when Iudas bewailed his case to the Priestes Of Iudas the traytour two notes and confessed to them that hee had sinned betraying the innocent bloode What is that to vs quoth they see thou to it Mat. 26.27 C. 11. q. 3. Two notes we may gather out of Beda and R. Holcot both our countrymen the first thâ— cause the second the time the cause was monyâ— in Iudas that moued him to betray his masterâ— which fault of Iudas Mat. 27. saith Beda many thiâ— day abhor as cruel wicked but they takâ— not heede of it the other is the time whâ—â— he betraied him euen when hee had taken hâ—â— Supper he went out and betraied him Bâ—ware al traytours of Iudas ende beware aâ— auoide the cause that is hope of siluer and of a better change his chaunge was no Royall ExchaÌ„ge but insteed of his Apostleship a rope Let vs dearly beloued seek no alteration of the state nor of the Prince let vs consider our blessed time better thaÌ„ this vnkind Iudas did For we at this time are no lesse theÌ„ Iudas was both corporally fed with the plentiful prouision at Gods hande and also spiritually refreshed at the table of the lord and with the right vse of the sacraments From the lawe of Christ wee come to the opinion of Christian Fathers The iudgement of Christian Fathers Ignatius the Martyr alloweth no such rebellion but auoucheth the Scripture of God that God taketh this quarell of Princes vpon himselfe as hee said vnto Samuel he alleageth the Scripture of Moses saying This murmuring of yours is not against vs but against the Lorde God and setteth downe this seuere sentence No maÌ„ that lifteth vp himself against his better Epist 3. ad Magnesios weÌ„t at any time vnpunished coÌ„cluding thus Wherefore wee must reuerence our superiours for that it is no great matter to be calâ—ed à Christian but to bee one as though hee would imploy Ad Scapul that those that are disloyall and â—ebels are not good ChristiaÌ„s The same reaâ—on Tertullian rendreth We are defamed as â—raytours against the Maiesty of the Emperour and yet Christians were neuer found to be Albimans nor Nigrians nor Cassians but he there discharging the ChristiaÌ„s chargeth the heathen who coÌ„demned the christians Christianus nullius est hostis nedum Imperatoris A Christian is foe to no man much lesse to the Emperour The office of Christians and priuat men is by Augustine thus described Cap. 23. q. 8. Quicunque Whosoeuer striketh euil men in that they are euil and hath a cause to kil them is the minister of God But hee that killeth or slaieth or maimeth