A Key Opening Mysterious Texts of Scripture, Collection of sermons 1 · Sermon 6
THE LORD PROTECTOR OF PRINCES; OR DEUS ET REX, GOD AND THE KING. A Sermon appointed to be preached before his Grace at Croydon, Auguſt 5. 1620. THE SIXTH SERMON.
PSAL. 21.1.
The King ſhall joy in thy ſtrength, O Lord: and in thy ſalvation how greatly ſhall he rejoyce? Or, (as wee reade in the Biſhops Bible)
The King ſhall rejoyce in thy ſtrength, O Lord: exceeding glad ſhall he be of thy ſalvation.
THat manifold, or (to make a new compound to tranſlate a compound) in the OriginallaEph. 3.10. foreign. multivarious wiſedome and goodneſſe of God, which hath illuſtrated the firmament with varietie of ſtarres, ſome more, ſome leſſe gliſtering and glorious; enamell'd the meadowes with choyce of flowers, ſome more, ſome leſſe beautifull and fragrant; inriched the ſands of the Sea with pearle, ſome more, ſome leſſe orient; and veines of the earth with metals, ſome more, ſome leſſe pretious: hath alſo decked and garniſhed the Calendar of the Church with variety of Feaſts, ſome more, ſome leſſe holy and ſolemn. You may obſerve a kinde of Hierarchy among them; ſome have a preheminence over the reſt, which we call greater and higher Feaſts. Among which this day challengeth his place, on which we refreſh the memorie of his Majeſties reſcue out of the prophane and impious hands of the Earle Gowry and Alexander Ruthwen. A paire of unnaturall brethren; brethren in nature, and brethren in a moſt barbarous and unnaturall attempt againſt their Soveraigne the Lords annointed: brethren by bloud, and brethren alſo in bloud: who by the juſt judgement of God cleanſed that ſtudy with their owne bloud, which they would have for ever ſtained by the effuſion there of the Royall bloud of the moſt innocent Prince that ever ſate on that or this Throne: whom almighty God ſeemeth not ſo much to have preſerved from thoſe imminent dangers he then eſcaped, as reſerved for theſe unvaluable bleſſings we now enjoy by the prorogation of his life; enlarging of his Scepter and propagation of his Iſſue. In his life the life of our hope is revived; in his Scepter the Scepter of Chriſt is extended; in his ſtocke the root of Jeſſe is propagated, and ſhall, I hope, flouriſh to the end of the world. For this cauſe the King ſhall rejoyce, &c. he ſhall rejoyce in thee, we in him; he in thy ſtrength, we in his ſafetie; both in thy ſalvation. Here is God aſſiſting, and the King truſting: God ſaving, and the King rejoycing: God bleſſing, and the King praiſing: laſtly, the King deſiring, and God ſatisfiing his deſires to the full, as you may ſee through the whole Pſalme. In this verſe you may diſcerne three remarkeable conjugations or couples.
1. God is joyned with the King.
2. Strength with confidence.
3. Salvation with exceeding great joy. And thus they depend each of other.
1. The King of God.
2. Confidence of ſtrength.
3. Joy of ſalvation.
1. God exalteth the King.
2. Strength begetteth confidence.
3. Salvation bringeth with it exceeding joy.
1. God is above the King.
2. Salvation is above ſtrength.
3. Exceeding joy above confidence.
If the King ſeeke God, in him he ſhall find ſtrength, and in his ſtrength ſalvation, and in his ſalvation exceeding great joy. Marke the word King; it ſtandeth as a cliffe before a ſong, which directeth the ſingers how to tune the notes, and lift up or depreſſe their voyces. If the King ſtand here as a lower cliffe for David, then ſtrength is aid, ſalvation victory, rejoycing thanks-giving: but if the word King be ſet as an higher cliffe for Chriſt, then ſtrength here is omnipotencie, ſalvation redemption of mankinde, rejoycing the exaltation of the humane nature to the higheſt degree of celeſtiall glory and happineſſe. This heavenly Manna of Evangelicall doctrine which the Fathers finde within the golden pot, that is, the inward ſenſe of the words; the Jewiſh Rabbins note to be carved in the outſide of the letter: to ſpeake yet ſomewhat plainer, that minde and meaning which the Chriſtian Expoſitors make of the words, by referring them to the truth whereof David was a type, they gather from the very characters, for foreign tranſpoſed, is foreign, the Anagram as it were of the word which ſignifieth to rejoyce is Meſiach, that is, Chriſt, or the annointed.
Now the title of King is attributed to Chriſt in Scriptures ſometimes abſolutely, ſometimes with additions; but ſuch as make him more abſolute, exalting his crowne as farre above all corruptible crownes as the heaven is above the earth. For his ſtile given by the ſacred Heralds is King immortall, King of Heaven, King of righteouſneſſe, Prince of peace, Lord of life, Lord of quicke and dead, Lord of all, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. This heavenly crowne in glorie, as much obſcuring the luſtre of earthly Diadems as the Sun doth the leaſt blinking ſtarre, belongeth to our head Chriſt Jeſus by a threefold right:
1. Of birth.
2. Of donation.
3. Of conqueſt.
His birth giveth it him; for he is the firſt born of the Father, and thereforebGal. 4.1. heire of all things, and Lord of all.
By gift alſo he hath it.cPſal. 2.8. Luke 1.32. The Lord God ſhall give unto him the Throne of his Father David, and he ſhall reign over the houſe of Jacob for ever. Aske of mee, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the earth for thy poſſeſſion.
It is his alſo by conqueſt, for he hath overcome the world, John 16.33. he hath conquered hell and death, and hath the keyes of both, Rev. 1.18. If you demand where his throne is, I anſwer, above at the right hand of his Father, Pſal. 110.1. below in the hearts of all the faithfull, whom he ruleth by the Scepter of his word.
Thus much for the cliffe, I ſet now to the notes, which are either
1. In rule.
2. In ſpace.
1 The note in ſpace I take from the coherence of this Pſalm with the former; the laſt words of the former Pſalme are Salvum fac Regem, Lord ſave the King, or Save Lord, let the King heare when we call: the firſt of this, Exultabit Rex in ſalute, The King ſhall rejoyce in thy ſalvation. That which there the Church prayeth for the King, here the King praiſes God for. The Chuch prayeth God there, ver. 1. The name of the God of Jacob defend thee, ſend thee helpe, and ſtrengthen thee out of Sion. And ver. 4. grant thee thy hearts deſire, and fulfill all thy mind: and doth not the King in this Pſalme trace the former footſteps, and follow the ſame notes in this Pſalme of thanks-giving? The King ſhall rejoyce in thy ſtrength, ver. 1. And, thou haſt given him his hearts deſire, ver. 2. What inſtance I in divers Pſalmes? In the ſame Pſalme, for the moſt part, in the beginning the Prophet ſoweth in teares, and in the end reapeth in joy; in the beginning hee complaineth, in the ending he prayſeth; in the beginning he cries for ſorrow, in the end he ſings for joy; in the beginning we have a ſtorme of paſſion, in the end the ſunſhine of Gods favour. The countenance of the Prophet, drawne to the life in this booke of Pſalmes, reſembleth the picture of Diana at Delphos, quae intrantibus triſtis, exeuntibus hilaris videbatur, the face whereof ſeemed to frowne upon all at their comming in, but to ſmile upon them at their going out. Such a copie of Davids countenance wee have Pſal. 6. lowring at the firſt verſe, Lord rebuke mee not in thine anger, &c. but clearing up at ver. 8. Depart from me yee workers of iniquitie, for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my weeping. How dolefully doth the 22. Pſalme begin? My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken mee? but how ſweetly doth it conclude from ver. 22. to the end? I will declare thy Name to my brethren: in the midſt of the congregation will I praiſe thee, &c. O the wonderfull power and efficacy of prayer, which in a moment pierceth the clouds, and bringeth backe a bleſſing before wee can imagine it is gone out of our lips! Like a piece of Ordnance highly mounted it battreth the walls of heaven before the report thereof be heard on earth. No naturall agent produceth any effect before it ſelfe be produced: nothing bringeth forth before it ſelfe is brought forth: yet prayer worketh oftentimes before it is made, and bringeth forth ſome good effect before it ſelfe is perfectly conceived: for God underſtandeth the thoughts before the notions are framed; he heareth the heart dictating, before the tongue, like the pen of a ready writer, copieth out our requeſts.
Now if the prayer of one righteous man prevaileth ſo much with the Omnipotent, how much more the united prayers of the whole Church? If one trumpet ſound ſo loud in the eares of the Almighty, how much more a conſort of all the ſilver trumpets of Sion ſounded together? If one ſigh is of force to drive our barke to the wiſhed haven, how much more a gale of ſighes breathed from a million of Gods afflicted ſervants? What judgement cannot ſo many hands lifted up beare off from us? what bleſſing are they not able to pull down from heaven? Wherefore, as the whole Synagogue with one mouth prayed God for their King, ſo according to Saint Pauls precept, the whole Chriſtian Church offered up their united devotions for the Roman Emperour. The matter and forme of their prayer is ſet downe bydTertul. in apol. Manibus expanſis, quia innocuis, capite nudo, quia non erubeſcimus, precantes ſemper ſumus pro omnibus Imperatoribus, vitam illis prolixam, imperium ſecurum, domum tutam, exercitus fortes, Senatum fidelem, populum probum, orbem quietum. Tertullian; With hands ſpread abroad, becauſe innocent; and bare head, becauſe not bluſhing, we are alwayes praying for all Emperours, that God would grant unto them a long life, a happie reigne, a ſafe houſe, victorious armies, a faithfull councell, a loyall people, and a peaceable world. And if according to SainteCypr. de lapſ. Cyprians paſſionate admonition we would joyne publickly our prayers to their prayers, and our teares to their teares, and our ſighes to their ſighes, who groane under the heavie yoake of heatheniſh or antichriſtian tyranny; who knoweth whether God would not change the face of Chriſtendome, and not onelyonly wipe bloud from the bodie, but alſo all teares from the eyes of his moſt diſconſolate Spouſe?
Thus much of the notes in ſpace; the notes in rule are ſpecially
In thy ſtrength.1. That the onelyonly ſecuritie of Princes and States is in the ſtrength of the Almighty.
The King ſhall rejoyce in thy ſalvation.2. That God holdeth a ſpeciall hand over Soveraigne Princes.
3. That Princes mightily defended and ſafely preſerved by the arme of God muſt thankfully acknowledge this ſingular favour, and deliver their deliverances to after ages, that the children yet unborne may praiſe the Lord as we doe this day.
1. That Princes and ſtates have no ſafe repoſe but under the ſhadow of the Almighty, I need not alledge any one Pſalme for proofe: it is the burthen almoſt of every ſong. Not a ſtring in Davids harp but ſoundeth out this tune, briefly,fPſal. 2.12. happy are they that put their truſt in him. gPſal. 4.8.Thou Lord onelyonly makeſt me to dwell in ſafety. hPſal. 20.7.Some truſt in chariots, and ſome in horſes: but wee will remember the Name of the Lord our God. iPſal. 21.7.The King truſteth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the moſt High he ſhall not be moved. kPſal. 44.6.8.I will not truſt in my bow, neither ſhall my ſword ſave me. In God wee boaſt all the day long: and praiſe thy Name for ever. Selah. Upon this note how excellent doth he divide? lPſal. 18.2.The Lord is my rocke, and my fortreſſe, and my deliverer: my God, my ſtrength in whom I will truſt, my buckler, the horne of my ſalvation, and my high tower. mXen. Cyr. p. ed. foreign, &c.It is not the golden Scepter wee ſee Princes leane upon that ſupporteth them, it is the loyalty of their loving ſubjects which beareth them up: withdraw this golden Scepter from them they cannot ſtand. nPlin. in panegyr. Satellitium principis ipſius innocentia optimum munimentum munimento non egere.The beſt guard of a Prince, ſaith Plinie, is his owne innocencie, the beſt defence and munition to need none, for armes are provoked by armes; neither can a Prince be guarded from his owne guard but by his buckler of faith, and the right hand of the Almighty: Dextra mihi deus eſt, My right hand is my god ſaith he in the Poet falſely and blaſphemouſly: but David truely and moſt religiouſly, The Lord is the ſtrength of my right hand. oPſal. 127.1.Except the Lord build the houſe, they labour in vaine that build it: except the Lord keepe the City, the watchman waketh but in vaine. Except the Lord protect the royall perſon of a Prince, the States-man counſelleth, the Captaine fighteth, the Guard waiteth but in vaine: no magazine of treaſure, no arſenall of armour, no fleet by Sea, no forces by land, no alliance with neighbour Princes, no allegeance of ſubjects can ſecure their perſons for a moment.
Thoſe in the bath who forſake their guides and will venter to goe of themſelves are often drowned: and travellers who refuſe or diſtruſt their convoy when they paſſe through theeviſh places, diſmiſſing them or ſtealing away from them, for the moſt part by eſcaping ſeeming danger, fall into certaine danger: ſo it fareth with them who rely not upon the protection of the Almighty, but ſeeke other helpe, aid and ſupport, from the arme of fleſh, or the braine of worldly Politicians.pJer. 17.5. Curſed is hee who maketh fleſh his arme, and truſteth not in the Lord his God. To the truth of which verdict the greateſt Potentates in the world have ſubſcribed with their owne bloud. Nebuchadnezzar truſted in his Citie Babel, and it became his Babel, that is, his confuſion. Xerxes truſted in his multitude of men, his multitude encumbred him. Darius in his wealth, his wealth ſold him. Eumenes in the valour of his regiment called the Silver-ſhields, his Silver-ſhields bound him and delivered him to Antigonus. Roboam in his young Counſellers, his young Counſellers loſt him the ten Tribes. Caeſar in his old Senatours, the Senatours conſpired againſt him. Domitian in his guard, his guard betrayed him. Adrian in his Phyſicians, his Phyſicians caſt him away: Multitudo medicorum perdidit Adrianum Imperat orem. Theſe all leaned upon Egyptian reeds, which not onelyonly brake under them, and ſo deceived their truſt; but alſo ran in to their hands and ſides, and wounded them. By whom let us all learne to diſtruſt all meanes of truſt and confidence, ſave in the continuance of Gods favour, and the ſupport of his power and Grace. St.pProſp. ſent. excerpt ex Aug. Qui in ſe ſtat non ſtat, qui ſe ſibi ſufficere confidit, ab eo qui verè ſufficit defici…. Proſper out of St. Auſtine happily concludeth this point; Whoſoever ſtandeth upon himſelfe ſtandeth not; hee who is confident in his owne ſupport, by this his arrogancie loſeth the ſupport of true confidence; opinion of ſelfe-ſufficiencie inferreth a deficiencie from him in q2 Cor. 3.5. Not that we are ſufficient of our ſelves to thinke any thing of our ſelves but our ſufficiencie is of God.whom is all our ſufficiencie.
I have ſhewed you the pictures of thoſe who have ſuffered ſhipwracke by making worldly policie their Pilot, and committing their bodie and goods to thoſe brittle barkes which I before mentioned: behold now the cheerefull faces of thoſe who in a deluge of troubles have yet arrived to the faire havens, being ſteered by the compaſſe of Gods Word, and carried ſafe in the arke of divine protection. How many mutinies againſt Moſes? how many ſtratagems againſt Joſhuah? how many attempts againſt David? what preparations againſt Hezekiah? what combinations againſt Jehoſaphat? what armies againſt Conſtantine? what fulminations from Rome, what Armadoes from Spaine, what poyſons, what dags and daggers from Traitours at home againſt Queene Elizabeth? Yet all theſe were compaſſed as it were with a wall of braſſe, and caſtle of Diamond, the Divine protection. Abijah and his people joyning battaile with Jeroboam ſmote him and all Iſrael, and ſlew five hundred thouſand, and tooke Bethel with the Townes thereof, and Jeſhanah with the Townes thereof, and Ephraim with the Townes thereof; and the children of Iſrael, though farre more in number, were at that time brought under, and the children of Judah prevailed. Why? Becauſe they were better ſouldiers? or better armed? or led by a more expert Generall? or becauſe they had advantage of the place? Nay, rather they were every way diſadvantaged. Forr2 Chron. 13.13. Jeroboam cauſed an ambuſhment to come about behind them: ſo they were before Judah and the ambuſhment was behind them. To put you out of doubt, the holy Ghoſt yeeldeth a reaſon of Judahs prevailing,ſ2 Chron. 13.18. becauſe they relied upon the Lord God of their fathers. St. Auſtin parallels this wonderfull victorie with the like that fell out about his time. WhentAug. de Ci…. Dei l. 5. c. 23. Uno die Rhadageſus tanta celeritate victus eſt, ut ne uno quidem non dicam extincto, ſed ne vulnerato quidem Romano, multo amplius quam centum millium proſternetur exercitus. Rhadageſus King of the Gothes with a puiſſant army environed Rome, and by reaſon of the ſmall preparations in the City no hope could be expected from man, how did God performe the truſt by his Saints repoſed in him, and fought for them in this their greateſt extremitie, and ſo diſcomfited the enemies, that in one day an army of a hundred thouſand was utterly defeated, not a man of the Roman ſide being ſlaine, nor ſo much as wounded? God loveth thoſe beſt who truſt him moſt, and he ſaveth them above meanes who hope in him above hope: as did Abraham the father of the faithfull. Beleeve him who ſpake it out of his owne experience:uPſal. 125.1. They that truſt in the Lord ſhall be as mount Sion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. xPſ. 91.1.4.5.6.7.10. ver. 4.He that dwelleth in the ſecret place of the moſt high, ſhall abide under the ſhadow of the Almighty. He ſhall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings ſhalt thou truſt: his truth ſhall be thy ſhield and buckler. Thou ſhalt not be affraid for the terrour by night: 5.6.nor for the arrow that flyeth by day: nor for the peſtilence that walketh in darkneſſe: nor for the deſtruction that waſteth at noone-day. A thouſand ſhall fall by thy ſide, 7.10.and ten thouſand at thy right hand, but it ſhall not come nigh thee. There ſhall no evill befall thee, nor any plague come nigh thy dwelling. yPſal. 3.8.Salvation belongeth to the Lord. zPſ. 144.10.It is hee that giveth ſalvation unto Kings who delivereth David his ſervant from the hurtfull ſword. Why is the accent upon Kings? as likewiſe in the words of my text, The King ſhall rejoyce in thy ſtrength, exceeding glad ſhall Hee bee of thy ſalvation. Doth not the wing of Gods provident care extend to all his Children? are they not all ſafe under his feathers? They are all; yet Kings are neareſt to his breaſt, they receive more warmth from him, hee hath a ſpeciall care of them, according to my ſecond obſervation:
Obſer. 2 That God taketh Princes into his peculiar protection. He keepeth them as the Signet of his finger, becauſe in them the Image of his Soveraigne Majeſtie moſt brightly ſhineth. It concerneth him in honour to mainetaine them who are his Vicegerents upon earth. It concerneth him in love to defend the defenders of the faith, and cheriſh the nurſing Fathers of his deereſt Spouſe. It concerneth him in wiſedome to ſave them who are the breath of ſo many thouſand noſtrils; to keepe them whole who are theaSen. de clem l. 1. c 4. Ille eſt vinculam pe… quod reſpublica cohaeret: nihil ipſa per ſe futura niſionus & praeda, ſi mens illa imperii ſubtrahatur. Regeincolumi mens omnibus una, amiſſo rupêre fidem. bond which holdeth together the whole Common-wealth. In the danger of a King is the hazzard of a State, in the hazzard of a State the ruine of a Church, in the ruine of a ChurchbVid. Camerar. meditat. hiſt. c. 30. Magnos vi…os divinitus ab inſidiis ſaepenumerò conſervari. Gods honour lyeth in the duſt. The heathen Poet glanced at this truth, when every where he ſtileth Kings foreign, as it were bred up and foſtered in the boſome of Jove, or rather Jehovah. Keepe me, ſaith David, as the apple of thine eye: Who can endure the leaſt pricke in the apple of the eye? no more will God abide his annointed to bee ſo much asc1 Chro. 16.22. touched: Nolite tangere unctos meos.
Is God ſo tender over Princes ſafety, and ought not they to bee as tender of his honour? Is hee ſo gracious to them, and ought not they bee as gratefull to him? The planets that receive more light from the Sunne, reflect more backe againe: the earth that receiveth raine from heaven, returneth it backe in vapour: Ceſſat decurſus donorum ſi ceſſet recurſus gratiarum: Obſer. 3 God will ſhut the windowes of heaven, and reſtraine the golden ſhowers of his bleſſings, if we ſend not up the ſweet vapours and exhalations of our thankes-giving and praiſe. Hee forfeiteth his tenure who refuſeth to doe his homage, bee it but the tendering of a red roſe in acknowledgement of ſervice. Such a kinde of homage Almighty God requireth of us for all we hold of him, the red roſes of our lips, and the ſweet ſavour of our devout meditations. Verily hee deſerveth to loſe his garden who will not afford his Landlord a flower. Si ingratum dSen. de bene fic.dixeris, omnia dixeris; if you call a man unthankefull you need ſay no more, for you cannot ſay worſe: whoſoever deſerveth to be branded with a marke of Ingratitude, hath his conſcience feared with a hot Iron. For what iseCic. pro planc. Religion, but Gratitude to God; Pietie, but Gratitude to Parents; Loyaltie, but Gratitude to Princes; Charitie and friendſhip, but gratitude to our neighbour. Now of all men Princes are moſt obliged to be thankfull to God, becauſe the beames of his favour ſhine moſt bright in their Crownes and Scepters, he ſets them in his owne ſeat of authoritie, inveſteth them with his owne robes of majeſtie, armeth them with his owne ſword of juſtice, ſupporteth them with his own Scepter of power, adorneth them with his owne Diademe of royall dignitie, and graceth them with his own ſtile of Deity, Ego dixi dii eſtis, I have ſaid yee are Gods, eJoh. 10.34. & Pſal. 82.6.and all of you are children of the moſt High. Above all therefore Princes ought to be moſt gratefull to God, becauſe God hath placed them in that high condition, that all other owe dutie and thankfull ſervice to them, and they to him alone. Thankes are not thankes-worthy if they flote onelyonly in the mouth for a time, and ſpring not continually from the heart. That gratitude is gratefull and acceptable to God and men, whoſe root is in the heart, and bloſſomes in the tongue, and fruits in the hands; whoſe root is love, and bloſſomes praiſes, and fruits good works. The root in the heart cannot be ſeene of any but God, the bloſſomes in the lips are blowne away with a breath, but the fruits in the hands are more laſting. Wherefore Noah was not contented after he and his family were ſaved from the deluge to offer up a ſweet ſmelling ſacrifice of thankes-giving upon the Altar of his heart; but he leaveth behind him an Altar of ſtone, Jacob an houſe to God, Joſhua a Trophey, Solomon a Temple, the Centurion a Synagogue, Veronica a ſtatue of braſſe, Conſtantine many Churches and Hoſpitals, Paula a magnificent Monaſterie at Bethlehem, where our Lord was borne. The Heathen after they had eſcaped ſhipwracke hung up theirfHorat. od. Me tabula ſacer votiva paries indicabit humida ſuſpendiſſe veſtimenta Maris deo. votivas tabulas to Neptune. After victorie, beſides ſupplications per omnia pulvinaria deorum, they put garlands upon the Images of their gods, and left the chiefe ſpoyles taken in warre in the Temple of Mars. The Jewes by the commandement of God reſerved a golden pot of Manna in the Arke, in memorie of that Manna which fell in the Wilderneſſe. In a thankfull acknowledgement of the deliverance of their firſt borne in Egypt, they offered every firſt borne to God: and to eternize the memoriall of their paſſage out of Egypt, and freedome from ſervitude, they altered their Calendar, and made that monethmonth in which God by Moſes delivered them out of the houſe of bondage thegExod. 12.2. beginning of their moneths.
Application.According to which religious preſidents our gracious King, being as upon this day pulled out of the paw firſt of the Beare, and then of the Lion and his ſeven clawes, hath erected a laſting, living, and which is more, a ſpeaking monument of his thankfulneſſe to God, by appointing the feaſt we now keepe to preſerve from oblivion his Majeſties wonderfull preſervation on this day from imminent deſtruction. When a motion was made in the Senate of dedicating a ſtatue of maſſie gold to the honour ofhTacit. annal. l. 2. Illae verae ſunt Statuae quae in hominum mentibus collocantur. Germanicus, Tiberius the Emperor oppoſed it, but upon a very plauſible pretence, that Images of braſſe and gold are ſubject to many caſualties; they may be ſtolne away, they may be defaced and battered, foule indignities and ſcorns be put upon them. Thoſe are the true Statues of vertue and Altars of fame which are ſet up in mens mindes: ſuch Altars hath our Soveraigne erected in the hearts of all his loving ſubjects, upon which wee offer this day throughout all his dominions the ſacrifice of praiſe and thankes-giving for his Majeſties marvellous deliverance, unparalleld in our age.iPſal. 19.2. Dies ad diem eructat ſei monem, & nox ad noctem annunciat ſcientiam. One day ſhall tell another, and one night ſhall proclaime it to another what great things the Lord did upon this day for his Annointed, whereat we rejoyce. How was his Majeſtie wrapt over and over in the ſnares of death, when under colour of taking a Seminarie Prieſt (as he was made beleeve) newly arrived with a pot full of golden ſeeds to ſow rebellion and treaſon in his Kingdome, he was led by Alexander Ruthwen through ſo many chambers into that ſtudy which was a long time before appointed for the ſtage whereon to act that bloudie tragedie, whoſe cataſtrophe was as happy to the King and Kingdome, as diſmall and fatall to the principall Actors. If ever ſtudy might be rightly termed according to the Latine name armarium, this was it; for it was not muſaeum, but campus Martius, not a ſtudents treaſurie, but a traitors armorie: here he findeth but two Authors, and they ſhould both have beene Actors. In ſtead of the gold which was promiſed, here he ſeeth Iron and ſteele, and no ſtrange coyne as he was borne in hand, but his own, I meane the croſſe daggers, not ſtamped on metall, but readie to be driven into his ſacred breaſt, and ſheathed in his bowels. Well might the King here cry uponkPhilo de legat. Alex. Ubi ceſſat humanum auxilium ibi adeſt divinum. Philo as Croeſus did upon*Herod. clio. Solon when hee ſtood on the pile to be burned, and the fire was kindled at the bottome: O Philo, Philo, I finde thy words to be goſpell, though thou wert an unbeleeving Jew. Mans extreameſt neceſſitie is Gods chiefeſt opportunitie: then commeth helpe from heaven when the earth is at a ſtand, and man at his wits end. What hope was here from man? whence could the King expect any helpe being unarmed, unattended, unguarded, betweene two Traitors (as Chriſt betweene two theeves) with the point of a dagger at his heart, in that darke roome? Whence or how ſhould there breake in any light of comfort from any the leaſt chinke? Where ſhould his hope caſt anchor? Upon his ſervants and traine? But beſides many doores, lockes, bolts and barres betweene them and his Majeſtie, moſt of them by the Earle Gowry upon a falſe alarum were ſent out of doores to poſt after him in the field. Upon the Traitor himſelfe? But his reſpectleſſe and barbarous carriage, his deſperate ſpeeches, his execrable oathes, his bloudie lookes, his ſparkling eyes, and gliſtering poynard drawne threatned nothing put preſent death. Upon himſelfe? But alas he had no weapon defenſive or offenſive, and now the ſigne was at the heart, I meane the daggers point at his breaſt. O the dread of ſacred Majeſtie! O the bulwarke of innocencie! O the power of eloquence! O the force of conſcience! which though they could not blunt the point of the Traito… dagger, yet they dulled the edge of his malice for a time. When a ſcholar of St.lRuffin. in hiſt. John the Evangeliſt, miſ-led by ill company, had turned to a Ruffian, and common hackſter, and robber by the high way, and drew at his maſter; upon a word only, ſpoken to him by St. John, he relents, flings away his weapon, falls downe upon his knees, craveth pardon with teares, and promiſeth for ever to abandon his wicked courſe of life. So powerfull is the miniſterie of the word and mighty in operation, ſo reverend is the calling of the diſpencers of Gods myſteries, that the naming only of a dead Preacher Mr. Rollock preſerved for a time the life of our Soveraigne. Ruthwen cannot endure to heare that the ſoule of Maſter Rollock ſhould accuſe him before Chriſts tribunall, for defiling the doctrine of the Goſpel which he taught him, by the bloud ſpilt by him of the Lords Annointed. His heart gives in, and he withdraweth himſelfe for a while, and thereby giveth his Majeſtie time to breathe, and meanes to cauſe the ſtudy window to be opened, at which entred ſome light of comfort.mCic. pro Sylla. Sed urget eadem fortuna quae caepit; his Majeſtie muſt yet beare a worſe brunt. For like as a Toad, being eaſed of his ſwelling for a time by eating of a planten leafe, if he meet with a Spider afterwards receiveth new poyſon, and ſwelleth more than before: even ſo Alexander meeting with the Earle Gowry his brother, (who was the Spider that ſpun all the web of this treaſon, which within a few houres was ſwept downe and himſelfe in it with the beſome of deſtruction) receiveth new poyſon from him, and now is ſo bigge with malice and treaſon that he is ready to breake. In therefore he comes againe to the ſtudy with two rapiers, and firſt binding himſelfe by oath to bereave his Majeſtie of his life, he offereth to binde his royall hands. But the King putting on the reſolution of the Oratour,nCic. in Catil. Si moriendum eſt in libertate moriamur. If we muſt die let us die as free men, looſeneth his hands, and faſtning upon the Traitors hand and ſword grappleth with him, and by maine force drew him to the window (a little before opened) whence by ſpeech and ſignes he made knowne to his faithfull ſervants, at that inſtant paſſing under the window, how things ſtood with him, and how neer he was to utter ruine by trecherous villany. As ſoon as they heard his Majeſties voyce they made all poſsible ſpeed to reſcue their maſter; yet before they could force the way through ſo many doores, lockes and barres betweene them and their immured Soveraigne, the light of all Iſrael had in all likelihood beene extinguiſhed, but that one of the Kings ſervants by the ſecret conduct of divine providence lighted upon the falſe doore opening to the ſtaire caſe, which hee had no ſooner got up, but he ſeeth the King on the ground, and the Traitor grappling with him, whom after hee had looſened from the King, with many wounds he tumbled downe the ſtaires to receive his fatall blow from two other of his Majeſties ſervants, who by this time had found the blind way leading to the turnepecke. And thus was the firſt act of this bloudie tragedy ended by the exit or going out of the firſt Actor Alexander Ruthwen, firſt out of that ſtage, and ſoone after of this world. The next act though more bloudie yet was by ſo much the leſſe dreadfull, becauſe the King by his ſervants, velut oEraſ. adag.homerica nube tectus, was ſaved out of murthers way. Now his Majeſties honourable attendance muſt prove their valour, and teſtifie their loyaltie by as many mouthes as they received wounds in that hot skirmiſh, wherein their Antagoniſts had the advantage of all things ſave the cauſe: double they were in number, better appointed of weapons, and more acquainted with the place. For the Earle Gowry (like the man poſſeſſed in the Goſpel, whichpLuke 11.26. walked through drie places, and took to him ſeven ſpirits worſe than himſelfe) armed himſelf, and took ſeven of his ſervants with him, more hardy and deſperate than himſelf, and finding his brother newly ſlain, foreign, was ſo enraged with furie and revenge, that he ſweareth at his entrie into the chamber that not a man of them ſhould ſcape, calling them by his qCic. parad. Ex…lem me ſuo nomine vocat.owne name Traitors. Here malice and love, fury and courage, trechery and loyalty, villanie and pietie trie it out at the point of the ſword, and the combat is ſoon ended by the death of the Arch-Traitor. Upon whoſe fall the hearts of the reſt faile, and they are now eaſily driven out of the room, and freſh aid commeth to the King by the reſt of his train, who by this time had broken down all the doores, and made a paſſage into the ſtudy, where now they finde the King ſafe, and the Earle Gowry lying dead at his feet. Whereupon they all fell upon their knees, and praiſed the mighty God of Jacob, who giveth ſalvation to Kings, and then had delivered his ſervant James from the perill of the ſword: then were the words of my text verified, The King ſhall rejoyce in thy ſtrength, O Lord, exceeding glad ſhall he be of thy ſalvation. Then, if ever, our King joyed in thy ſtrength, and in thy ſalvation exceſsively rejoyced. And not long after the words following (ver. 3.) were fulfilled in him; Thou preventedſt him with bleſsings of goodneſſe, and thou didſt ſet a Crowne of pure gold upon his head, viz. the Crowne of England; which ſhortly after fell unto him, and hath ever ſince flouriſhed upon his head: and ſo Lord may it ſtill till he changeth this his corruptible crowne with an incorruptible, and his mortall ſtate with an immortall, purchaſed for him and all of us by the death and paſsion of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. To whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be rendred all glorie, honour, praiſe and thanks-giving now and for ever. Amen.