A View of the Romish Hydra, Sermon 7

A View of the Romish Hydra · Sermon 7

p. 1561. SAM. 26.

11 The Lord keepe me from laying mine hand vponupon the Lords annointed but, I pray thee, take now the ſpear that is at his head, and the pot of water, and let vsus go hence.

12 So Dauid tooke the ſpear and the pot of water from Sauls head, and they gate thē away, & no man ſaw it, nor marked it, neither did any awake, but they were al aſleep: for the Lord had ſent a dead ſleep vponupon thē.

THE SEƲENTH SERMON.

FOR y^e better vnderſtanding of this text, and of all that which I hauehave to ſay in this place, I muſt in few woordes repeat and rippe vp that which went before.A repetition of Dauids diſcourſe. Dauid hath aunſwered the motion of Abiſhai in this propoſition, That King Saul ſhould not bee deſtroied: and yeeldeth two reaſons, for that he is the Lords annointed, and whoſoeuer laieth hand vponupon him ſhal not be holden guiltles: Another reaſon is in the proteſtation of Dauid, that he will not doe it, becauſe the matter lieth in Gods hand, and he hath ordinary & extraordinary meanes p. 157to remoue him or kil him at his own pleaſure: and therfore it pertaineth not to him a priuat man, although he be next in ſucceſſion, to vſe any fraudulent or violent preuention. Which reaſons I hauehave elſewhere examined, & by many lawes & autorities confirmed to be of force & moment: the particulars whereof I omit.

At this time I purpoſe to proceede, firſt in the proofe of the reaſon, & ſo nextly to intreat of the laſt part.

It is a ſcruple or queſtion nowe in theſe daies, who bee the ſucceſſours of Abiſhai in theſe miſchieuous, and malicious conſpiracies againſt Princes. Staphylus ſeemeth to burden Luther, that he commandeth ſubiects to rebel,In Apolagia Fride…. Staphyli, in praefa…. and to diſobey the commaundements of Caeſar, and forbiddeth to ſight againſt the Turkes. But this Queſtion wee hauehave reſolued and determined before, that the Popes are aduerſaries and no friendes of Caeſar, and that they are the onelyonly authours of inſurrections, and rebellions againſt lawefull autority. As for Luther, he teacheth obedience in al his writings, he loueth not ſuch preſūption againſt ſuperiors lawfully placed in the Throne of God, and ſaith, He that is inarmor againſt them that ſit in high places is like to them that cut wood, & look high, & ſometimes the chippes fall into their owne eies, as it is p. 158in Eccleſiaſticus, Who ſo caſteth a ſtone on high, Cap. 27.caſteth it vponupon his owne head. Such cutters and caſters you ſhal find the Popes of Rome to be. Reinerus Reineccius ſaith, that Helmoldus granteth the Popes to hauehave been oftentimes, Bellorum & aliorum ſeditioſorum motuum tubas: In prooemio Annalium, Helmoldi.The trumpets of wars and of other ſeditious commotions. How bitter Paſchalis was againſt the Emperour Henry the fift, and howe Henry the fift was ſturred vp againſt his father Henry the fourth, by the inticement & incitement of Papiſtical trumpeters: I hauehave opened before. The troubleſome tumults between this Pope & this rebellious ſonne,Hebnoldus in Chron. Sclauor. lib. 1. cap. 60. may appeare in the Chronicles, when Paſchalis in the conſecration of the Emperour required his oath, that he ſhould bee perfect in the obſeruaunce and obedience of the Catholicke faith, and ready to reuerence the Apoſtolical See, and careful for the defenſe of the Church: it is thus notoriouſly deſcribed to the vtter ſhame both of the ſeditious Pope & of the rebellious Prince,The plague of Pope & ſon for the rebellion against, Henr. 4. as the iuſt iudgement of God for the death of the good father, Bellum in domo Petri, There was war in the houſe of Peter, betweene the Cleargy and the communalty, there was no difference, the ſword deuoured them al. The houſe of holineſſe is filled with Carcaſes, riuers of p. 159blood ran out of the heapes of deade men▪ ſo that the waters of Tyber were chaunged into the coulor of bloode, the Cardinals were tied in chaines and ropes hanged about their neckes and the Pope taken priſoner. For this fact againſt himſelfe, the Pope could cal him a wicked, a bloody, a falſe man: for this hee curſed him, and in a councel of Biſhops his priuileges giuen him before, were named prauileges, & taken frō him: but the childe depriuing his father of crowne and life was by the ſame Pope accompted his white ſonne.Jn Henr. 4. But Cuſpinian crieth out againſt this ſonne: O wicked child, which for greedines of a Kingdome dooth perſecute, and proſecute with hatred and ſword him, by whō he hath receiued both life & roial dignity. So he was curſed on eueryevery ſide,Helmoldus cap. 60.61. at al hauds, & of the Pope forſpokē, that, He ſhould neuer thriue after, nor ſee peace in his daies, nor get a child to ſit in his throne after him.

But this horrible ſin of treaſon & rebelliō, I hauehave proued to be in al places, by all lawes, of al Kings cōdemned: to which I ad here theſe proofes for a further fortification.Treaſon de teſted by Iewes. The Iewes deteſted it as Dauid in this place, & in others before rehearſed, and beſides he curſeth Ioab for the death of Abner, 2. Sam. ….and cauſed the people to rent their clothes, and put on ſackcloth, and p. 160he followed himſelfe the beare, and wept, and ſaid to his ſeruants: Know ye not that there is a Prince, and a great man fallen this day in Iſrael? If Abner be ſo lamented, how much more lamētable had been the death of Dauid? Banaah & Rechab did ſtay Iſhboſheth y^e ſon of Saul, 2. Sam. 4.2 Sam 4brought his head to Dauid, thinking it had been glad tydings to him to ſee his enemy dead, but Dauid cauſed their heads to bee cut off, with their feete, and to be hanged ouer the poole in Hebron. Romanes.The Romans could not abide treachery, as by many examples was ſhewed before. Lucius Sylla would faine hauehave Sulpitius Rufus deſtroied: but when he perceiued vponupon his proclamatiō that he was hid in a village, and betraid by his owne ſeruant, hee gaue this parricide freedō, according to promiſe in his Edict,Valerius lib. 6. but with al by & by he commaunded him to be caſt downe headlong from the top of the tower Tarpeia with his cap of freedome vponupon his head, which he had vnhoneſtly gotten with ſuch treachery. In the battle of Licinius againſt Conſtantine, God ſhewed out his iudgement againſt al the Licinians and rebelles,Euſebius li. 2. de vita Constant. ſo that ſome of them, caſting away their weapons fell downe at the Emperours foote, others were ſlaine, others running and ruſhing together did fall vppon their owne ſwordes, as Euſebius teſtifieth. p. 161What ſhall I ſay of the Graecians, Graecians.who all with one conſent would declare their hatred againſt Traitours: Cillicon betraied Samos or Mile…us to the Prienians, which treaſon made him rich, but od…e to eueryevery mean man. Afterward when he came to buy fleſh of Theagenes, Suidas i… ver… Cillicon.he biddeth him ſhew him what peece hee would hauehave cut, & ſtretching out his hand pointed to it, and the other cut it off, ſaying, foreign. With this hand thou ſhalt not betray an other Cittie. The ſame Suidas telleth of another perfidious and treacherous man Ariſtocrates, who being choſen a captaine for the Rodians deceiued them:Jd… for comming to the action and to the point of ſeruice, as to the ſier to be tried, he was found falſe and counterfait coin.Plutsarch de ſera N… minis vi… dicta. Another Ariſtocrates when he had betraied the Miſſenians in bat…le, hee waxed ſo wealthy, and ſo mighty, that he was made ruler ouer the Arcadians but by Gods prouidence after twenty yeares, he was found out, and puniſhed for his treaſon. So much was it deteſted among them, that in al time they would not forget it, nor forgiue it.

I ſpake before of Fraunce, of Flaunders, and of others.Hungarians. The Hungarians abhorre this vice. Bela ſucceſſor vntounto Stephen, was a blind man, yet a good. King and yet indaungered by p. 162Traitours, which thing being vnderſtood, the Queene Helena in a great aſſembly made an oratiō againſt thoſe rebels,Queene Helena an enemie to …raitours. Bonfin. rerum Hung. decad. …. …br. 6. that this fact was not to be forgiuē, that kings were to be ſpared for that they ſhould be reputed as gods: wherupon they were al iudged to dy, & one Sampſon that had called the King blind theefe and moſt vile dog, was puniſhed by the Peers, and flying away was followed and driuen headelong into a riuer, and had many wounds, and being Ioded with his ha…neiſc was drowned. It was ſhewed before of Canutus King of the Danes, Danes.how hee was contented to remit a certaine exaction and tribute, ſo that they would pay their tithes to the Prieſts Among them one Blacco moſt Judaſly delt with his King, beeing ſent an Ambaſſadour to the people, was of a mediatour become a traitor, and did not pacifie the people, but ſtirred them vp againſt him. The King being at his praiers, in Saint Albons Church, ſeeing the violence and fury of the people, continued ſtil at his deuotion, making his confeſſion vntounto 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 p. 163Church 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? HaueHave 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 puniſhmēt 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: OnelyOnly this in Tertullian, Bonus vir Caius Seius, Ju Apo…ſed malus …antùm, quia Chriſtianus. Item alius, Ego Luciune ſapientem virum repentè Chriſtia…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 p. 164thing 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.Matt 101 Pet 2Matt 21Luke 2You 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 hauehave this portion, the inheritaunce of the Croſſe, euen for Chriſtes Croſſe ſake. The Kinges of the earth bande themſelues, Pſal. 2.Ps 2and the Princes are aſſembled together againſt the Lorde, and againſt his Chriſt. Pſal. 3.Ps 3And againe: How many riſe againſt mee? The Prince and the Prophet hauehave 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: GiueGive vsus 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 ſuppl…cation to his God. As Daniel, p. 165ſo the reſt of the Apoſtles and Prophets, and why? Serpens hoſtis eſt, contrarius veritati, Daniel. 6. In Eze… Hom…. Actor…Dan 6as Origen replieth. The Serpent is an enemy, contrary to the truth. Which of the Prophetes hauehave not your fathers perſecuted, ſmd… bleſſed Stephen, and therefore was ſtoned: The Propher Icremy was mocked continually, ſtricken of the Prieſt Paſhur, Cap. …0. Dorothe… in ſynopſi. Origen. in Matth cap. 13.Matt 13and 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. 2.1 Thess 2 And Origen maketh this coniecture, that Paul preaching eueryevery where, yet hee prenched not at Tharſis in his coutry: Sciens Propheram expertē eſſe honoris inpropria patria, becauſe Paul did knowe that a Prophet was not honoured in his owne country… … for this cauſe the Apoſtle forſooke Iſrael; and ſaid:Act. c… …. Becauſe you caſt vsus out, & iudge your ſelues vn worthy of euenlaſting life, behold we turn to the Gentils. The Goſpell could hauehave no place, miracles could take no effect, in Chriſts countrie, whereof he complaineth in his Euangeliſles, Mat. 13 Math. 6. Luc. 4.Matt 13Matt 6Luke 4Matthe we, Marke, and Luke. I ſpeake not this of you, dearelie beloued, whoſe zeale in Religion is knowne, and I hope will continue, p. 166and 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 t… God & their Prince, and from all pierie towar…s their P…ia… and Country,Chriſt baniſhed. daily conſpiring, and all for Chriſt and his Goſpel, whom they would baniſh, and like Herodians extinguiſh among vsus … but if he be baniſhed, it is no ſh…le for vsus to be baniſhed with him. It is he to whō we muſt clean…, 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 prohibitiō to Abiſhai, The third part of D. politick Reſolution.and alſo hath proteſted for himſelf ſaying: The Lord keepe me for laying mine hands vponupon 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 vsus go hence, and ſo foorth, as you may ſee in the eleuenth & twelfth verſes: & this is the third p. 167part 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 vponupon this common place, the Prouidence of God, & that threefold, taken out of the circumſtāces, 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 ob…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 ſ…nd it is a woonder to ſee and to heare, bowe man not regarding this carefull and watchfuley of the Lord, ouerlooking all their actions, nor fearing the haude of the Lorde ſtriking al ſuch actours, dare in this manner aduenture any thing againſt thē, ſo guarded & armes with his protection. And yet alwaies there hauehave bin ſuch murmurers. There were that mūbled againſt Moſes, Exod. …Who made thee p. 168Prince and iudge ouer vsus? There was a wicked Belial Sheba that blewe a Trumpet to ſturre the people, We hauehave no part in Dauid, neither hauehave inheriance in the ſon of Iſhai. …. Sam. 20.There were that murmured againſt the ſeruaunts of God ſent vntounto them, and beat ſome, and killed others, and ſtoned ſome others, yea they ſaide,Mat. 21.Matt 21 Let vsus kill the heire.

All this winde ſhaketh no corne, Triticum non rapit ventus, Cyprian de ſimplicitate Praelatorum.the winde carieth not away the wheat. The annointed of the Lord remai… neth ſtedfaſt: be he good, or be he had, either he tarieth in his good pleaſure, or hee is taken away in his diſpleaſure. Saul is a ſleepe, and yet he is ſaued, and God ſ… ruled Dauid and ſo bridles Abiſhai, that the one would not, and the other could not ſet vponupon him beeing at his head. O maru… oa… ful…ieſſe of our God ouer the gods of the earth! yea …godly gods. With what pro…ēce was Moſes preſ…rued, kept cloſe for three mouthes;Exo. 2.Exod 2 throwen into the water, and yet drawen out, …t…d by Pharaoh, and yet foſtered by his daughter… oftentimes aſſ…lted by Iſ…lit…, euer ready to ſtone him, oftentimes murmured at, and entried by AEgyptians, Exo. 15.16. Num. 11.12.16.Exod 15:16Num 11:12Num 11:16by Iſraelites, and ſomewhat by his owne ſiſter, as wee may read in the booke of Exodus, and in the booke of Numbers? Our Dauid ſtanding nowe in reuerſion, but afterward p. 169put in poſſeſſion, was euermore both a priuate and publick perſon kept ſafe, becauſe the Lord would hauehave it ſo. The Lord, ſaith he,Pſal. 18. Pſal. 38.Ps 18Ps 38 is my rock & my fortreſſe. They hauehave ſpred a net, and they hauehave ſought my life, and yet this dead dog, this little flea hath gods paſſeport and warrant for himſelfe.Pſal. 89.Ps 89 I hauehave found Dauid my ſeruaunt, with my holy oile hauehave I annointed him, therefore mine hand ſhall helpe him, and mine arme ſhall ſtrengthen him: the enemy ſhal not oppreſſe him, nor the wicked hurt him. This comfortable warrant reacheth vntounto all Princes that fear God. It is recorded in an oration made at the requeſt of Queen Elizabeth, in Bonſinius his ſtory of Hūgary: Dec. 3. lib. 4.We muſt vndoubtedly beleeue that al power is giuen to men of God & who can withſtand the wil of God? Cyrus an infant was caſt out of dores. Romulus with Rhemus was caſt into Tyber. Seruius Tullius was borne of a ſeruant and captiue mother; and yet they coulde not bee ſtaied or ſtopped by any violence, but that they muſt obtaine thoſe Kingdomes, to the which they were borne and predeſtinated. The prouidence and predeſtination of God are vnchaungeable and vnmoueable both for comming to Principalities, and for keeping their holds: which is ſo certaine, that neither p. 170force nor frand, neither …iue action of Diuels, nor conſpiration of men can breake or interrupt this appointed courſe of God. Conſtantine the Great writeth vntounto Sapor the King of the Perſianes to be fauourable to Chriſtians, So…. lib. 2. cap. 15.aſſuring hin that God would be therfore merciful vntounto him, and that hee himſelfe ha… for his faith by the help of God ſubdued and ſubiected vntounto himſelfe the whole Empire of the Romanes. Vulcatius Gallicanus.God ſpake ſometimes in the mouth of the heathen, as of Antonine the Emperour, ſaying: Wee doe not ſo worſhip God, nor ſo liue, that Caſſius a Traytour ſhould ouercome vsus.

The aſſuraunce that was made vntounto Veſpaſian in this doctrine of Prouidence was woonderfull, when two noble men were conuiceed for conſpiracy againſt him, aſpiring to the Empire: he did nothing elſe but warne them; that they ſhould ſurceaſe, affirming, Principatum Fato dari: Principality to bee giuen by the decree of God. Theſe men he did not onelyonly famliarly admicte to his Supper, but alſo the next day in the ſhewe, and play of Fenſers or ſword-plaiers, he ſet them for the …once about him,Sueton in Tit. Veſp. and the or namentes & weapons offered vntounto him by the fighters, he gaue to theſe aduerſaries, to bee looked vppon and handled of them: no doube but aſſuring himſelfe, p. 171that they could not, ne durſt ſtrike. Saxo Grammaticus declareth how Canutus and Charles, and diuers others went about to kil the King of Danes, Waldemarus, who both with others their complices beeing familiar in the court, and neere vntounto the King a perſon, and one of them alone ſometime with him attending vponupon his chariot,A nesa… confeſſion of Gods pro…dence its preſe…in… Princes. and many times hauing a coate of maile, might hauehave ſodenly diſpatched him, but hee by Gods prouidence alwaies by one meanes or other was preſerued, and (as one of the conſpiratours called Magnus in his examination confeſſeth) that it was, Non ſorte humana, ſed diuina opera, by no lucke or cunning of man, but by the work of God: and wōdreth how he did eſcape, being ſo many times and by ſo many waies intrapped. And when the King aſked him,Sarc. … Danie. l. 1…. whether hee did meane indeede to ſet vppon him and oppreſſe him, he aunſwered ſtoutely, Nec animum ſibi nec arma, …ihil que quod tanto f… einori attinuit, excepth. Deinutu defurſſe: That there wanted nothing to him, neither intent, nor courage, nor weapons, nor any thing that pertained to ſuch a wicked not, but only gods beck & aſſent. In Flanders. Count Lodowick Maleanus diſtreſſed by a rebell Arteualda (of whoſe ende I ſpake of before) and by ſome ſouldiors of Gaunt being of that conſpiracy, p. 172ſought for, he was hid by a woman in a poore bedde, where her little children did ly: This woman was woont to ſitte at the Counte his gate, for au almes: one of the ſouldiours tooke a candle, and looked narrowely in eueryevery corner, and after his ſearch returneth to his fellowes, and ſaith: Let vsus goe, wee leeſe time, here is none, beſides her little ones: ſo as the author writeth, this woman as another Rahab ſaued the Earle: Ita ſola voluntate Numinis ſeruatus Comes, qui haec omnia nudiuit verba, ſo by the onelyonly will of God the Earle was ſaued,Jac. Meyer lib. 13. Annal. Fland. Chr. li. 20. and heard al theſe words. God did alſo prouide marueilouſly for Charles the fift, as Maſſae us witneſſeth. It is well knowen, his owne courtiours ſometimes by poyſon, ſometimes by other treaſon went about to deſtroy him but the Lorde preſented him. King Henry the fourth him many conſpiratours, and this one …aſpitu…y was moſt notable.Hen. 4 King of England In the night when hee ſhould goe to bed, the enemies had laide there in the ſtrawe a galthrop which had,Th. Wal. three long ſharpe pikes, that when hee ſhoulde ſodenly …y downe, hee might be deſtroied, but as God would he felt it and perceiued it before, and ſo auoided the peril. There is nothing can annoy the godly Magiſtrate, but all ſhall woorke for the beſt. There hauehave beene in all ages, and ſpecially in p. 173theſe latter times many fetches and deuiſes to circumuent & to catch in a ſnare the Lords annointed, but the prouidence of god hath confoūded the wiſedom of man, for he giueth life, he is the life and length of their daies,Deut. 30. Pſal. 103.Deut 30Ps 103 he deliuereth their life from death: who can then take it away, or abridge it? He that is aboue beareth ſtroke in the Kingdome of men,Daniel. …. and he beſtoweth vponupon whom hee will, and who is he that dare take vponupon him to diſpoſe it otherwiſe then is appointed: As Auſtin ſaith of the greatues of the Empire of Rome, The cauſe thereof is: becauſe it is not ruled by fortune or deſtiny: ſo I ſay of the ſtate and proſperity of England, & of the preſeruation of our Prince: It is not by chaunce, nor by our cunning, nor our policy, but only by the merciful protection of God.Auſtin de ciuit. Deil 5. cap. 1. Prorſus Diunina prouidentia regna conſtituuntur humana. The Kingdoms earthly and humane are conſtituted and ſtabliſhed altogether by the prouidence of God. The ſhip (ſaith Chryſoſtom) can neuer paſſe the waues of the ſea without a gouernour: a ſouldiour can doe no great exploite without the conduct of a captaine, and houſe is not built, vnleſſe there bee one to build it: and can this large and vnmeaſureable world, can the ornaments of theſe elements be moued caſually or raſhly? Is there none p. 174that can moderate them, and knoweth by his wiſedome to keepe and preſerue them? Whereupon I gather this concluſiō: He that ruleth, and v…doeth theſe ſuperiour and iuferiour things, he that maketh the world, & maketh an end therof, muſt make and marre the Mouarches of the world, and therefore bould fooles are they, that go about to rule, or ouerrule, or vnrule them.

The prouidence of God appeareth alſo in the perſon of Dauid, The 2 prouidence of God ouer his Elect.and Abiſhai, who came into the centes of Saul, and tooke away the ſpear, and pot from him, and yet no man ſeeth nor marketh, neither did any awake, and ſo they went away through the whole army, vnwounded, vntouched, vnſeen: for God had caſt the enemies into a dead ſleepe. This part of gods prouidence is alſo the more to be conſidered, becauſe euen the godly ſeing their own afflicted ſtate in this world, & the proſperity of the wicked,In praefat. Abacuc. begin, as Theophylact faith, to doubt, whether God be touched with the care of worldly things. In this point Dauids feet beganne to ſlip.Pſal. 73. Cap. 1.Ps 73 And Abacuc crieth, O Lord, how long ſhal I cry, and thou wilt not hear? And Icremy, Why happeneth that the way of the wicked dooth proſper? Cap. 12.And Ionas: Lord take my life from me. Cap. 4.So Iob: What profit ſhal we hauehave, Cap. 21.if we ſerue and pray to p. 175him? So Malachie alſo,Cap. 3. where God aunſwereth that he hath a booke of remembrance for them that feare him, & biddeth theſe murmurers conſider what a difference there is betweene the iuſt and the wicked. So, dearely beloued, let vsus conſider though Dauid here be baniſhed, yet he cōmeth into the hoſt, & neither king, nor captain, nor ſouldior ſaith any thing to him, nor ſeeth him. This is a general care that God hath of his Church, & of al the members, his elect, by one meanes or other to deliuer them. The meane here ſet downe for the deliueraunce of Dauid, is Tardemáh, a ſound ſleep, ſlumber and drouſines of Saul and his camp. While Adam ſleepeth, Eua is created, and ſo many times the Church is preſerued, euen as Ioſeph in his ſleepe was warned to fly into AEgypt with Ieſus and Mary his Mother.Marth. 1. Iudith conquered Holofernes, becauſe God had caſt him into a ſleepe.Iudith. 13.Jdt 13 Gideon ouercame the Midianites drouſing and lying in the valley like graſſe-hoppers,Iudic. 7.Judg 7 and was en couraged thereunto by a dreame; that one told vntounto his neighbour. As this is one mean, ſo we may conſider all other meanes ordinary and extraordinary, by which hee ouercommeth & daūteth the aduerſaries of his church, ſometimes by frindes, ſometimes by foes: by friendes, in procuring them & in ſtrengthning p. 176them: by foes, in confounding their deuiſes, and in bridling their furious affections, as wel it is expreſſed by Origen. Duobus ex modis conſtat in omnem creaturam Chriſti domination. Lib. 9. ad Romanos.The Lordſhip and ſoueraignty of Chriſt is two waies ſhewed: by his maieſty, and power ſubdiung: all thinges & al creatures: firſt bowing, and bending the holy minds and ſpirits to his pleaſure, ſecondly commaunding and forcing the wiched, and reprobate to the excrution of his purpoſes. God in his dominion dooth ſo excell, that all his creatures, good and bad, yea the diuel himſelfe cannot annoy thoſe whom hee loueth. The Diuell goeth no farther then his chaine, wherewith he is tied as a dog. He could not hurt Iob but by a Licenſe,Iob. 2. Mat. 8.Job 2Matt 8 nor enter into Hogges, but by leaue. Sometimes God maketh enemies frindes. When the ſouldiours of Iulian, for feare had ſworne to him: only Nebridius withſtoode it, ſaying, that he could not be tied by an oath againſt Conſtantius, Marcellinus. lib. 21.to whom he was by many and often benefites bound and beholding: which when the ſouldiours heard, they were inflamed, and ready to kil him: & then…uen Iulian his enemy ſeeing him falling down vponupon his knees, couered him with his coat of armor and gaue him a protection of ſecurity: Hind quo libet abi ſecurus. Goe thy way front hence p. 177whither thou wilt ſafe and ſecure. It is not amiſſe that is ſaid of Thomas Aquine, defining Prouidence after this ſort: Prouidence is, which to things foreknown by God & in his wiſedome ordained miniſtreth that thing, In tractatri de Praedeſt.which may keep & vphold that order, & remoueth away al diſorder or inordinatiō, that is, taketh away all that may hinder it, & ſo directeth al things, that the laſt end propoſed by him, may be archiued. Whereby the Princes come to their Kingdoms, & continue al the prefixed time without hinderaunce, and the Preachers run their race, and keepe on their courſe without interruption of man or diuel. Eſay the Prophet cōtinued in ſpite of his enemies, about fourſcore years: Polycarpus fourſcore & ſix.Polycarpos Ieremy was threatned of the Iewes, Let vsus, ſay they, deſtroy the tree with the fruit therof, Ierem. 11.Jer 11& cut him out of the lande of the liuing: but yet Gods decree was otherwiſe: that the mē of Anathoth ſhould dye with the ſworde, and they that ſought his life, & would not hear his prophecy in the name of the Lord,Ieremi… ſhould bee 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. 1…Acts 1 Peter a captiue was appointed by Herode to death, but Gods p. 178appointment was, by an Angel to deliuer him: Paul ſaith: All men hauehave forſaken me, but the Lord aſſiſted me, & ſtrengthned me, that by me the preaching might be fully known, 2. Tim. 4.2 Tim 4and that al the Gentiles ſhould heare and I was deliuered out of the mouth of the Lyon. He neuer left preaching from Ieruſalē to Illyricū, Spain & Italy, & was neuer offred to death, til y^e time of his diſſoluing came, & then he did worthily ſay of himſelf: I hauehave fought a good fight, I hauehave finiſhed my courſe, I hauehave 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 hauehave 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 forſakē me, Eſai. 49.Isa 49yet the lord wil be more tē der thē a womā ouer her child, nay he aſſureth vsus that he hath grauen vsus vpō the palme of his hands, and that our wals are euer in his ſight, though y^e diuel watcheth for vsus, ſeeking, & running p. 179about like a roaring Lion,Pſal. 1.25.Ps 1:25 yet God ouerwatcheth him. He neither ſleepeth nor ſtūbreth 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 Cat… 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 vsus 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 prouidēce 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 hauehave brought vsus into this wildernes, to kil this whole congregatiō with famine and hunger. Are there not in England, Exo. 16.17.Exod 16:17murmuring 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 vntounto them theſe many years,In the ye… 1586. was that dearth in this bleſſed raign of the Queens maieſty: And euen in this time of this ſmall dearth, there is charitable p. 180order 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 & religiō in ſome of vsus 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 vsus all: which vices being reformed in vsus, we ſhal hauehave inough. Our forefathers Abraham, Iſaac & Iacob in ſtrange places found a ſtraunge goodnes of God for their prouiſion, which is not vnknowen vntounto 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 vponupon Abraham, ſo he wil hauehave mercy vponupon vsus. 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.Exod 9 when Iſrael ſhall be preſerued p. 181in Goſhen: God wil rather tranſubſtantiate al his creatures, and make ſtones bread, & water wine, & cauſe rocks yeeld water, rather then you that fear God & louelove 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 vponupon him,Pſal. 147.Ps 147 and the ſame Lord delighteth onelyonly in thē that fear him.Oſe. 7.Hos 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, Ho…il. 19. in li… Num cap. …4.Num 4conteret ſathanam Deus ſub pedibus. God will treade ſathan, vnderunder the feete of them that ſtriue for piety, and godlineſſe. The ſame Origen giueth vsus good cōfort, but cōditional.Jbid. ca. 25. Hom. 20. If we want not weapōs wherwith the Apoſtle willeth vsus to be armed, all other dartes cannot pearce vsus. If we hauehave the armor of God, Epheſ. 6.Eph 6the 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.Ps 32no walles of cities, no army of horſe men, nor power of foot men, no preparatiō of ſhips ſaue a King: for God doth appoint Kings and diſappoint and depoſe. Exalt not your horne,Pſal. 75.Ps 75 ſpeake not with a ſtiffe necke, for promotion commeth, neither from the eaſt, nor from the weſt, nor frū, p. 182the 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 giuegive ſafe conduict. Religion and Piety, muſt be our onelyonly 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 vsus be only religious, and god alone will ſuccour and ſhield vsus, becauſe Dauid here feared God, reuerenced the perſon of Saul, becauſe Abiſhai beeing better aduiſed, was content to bee ruled with a woorde of Dauid: you ſee how the Lord did prouide for them. Be hee Frenchman, or Spaniard, Iew or Turk, he cannot hurt or harme vsus in this caſe,Bonfin. deca 3. lib. 5. Mimmo digito Turcas omnes, ſi voluerit, illico conteret Deus noſter. Our God can out of hand, if hee wil, burſt and breake with his little finger, al Turkes, al our enemies.

But now, my Brethren, as on Gods part al is certaine and ſure,Eſa. e. 59. The ſtop of Gods prouidence our ſinne. For neither his hande is ſhortned that he cānot ſaue, neither his eare heauy that it cannot hear: ſo on our ſide al the dāger is to be feared. Your ſins hauehave ſeparated becween you and your god, ſaith the ſame Prophet. p. 183Sin maketh this diuiſion:Gen. 3.Gen 3 Adam ſin ning loſt Paradiſe, for himſelfe & for vsus. The world ſinning was drowned:Gen. 6. Ioſ. 7.Gen 6Josh 7 One Achā ſinning was the plague of al Iſrael: One Ionas ſinning indangered the whole ſhip: Sin brought fier and brimſtone from heauen vponupon Sodome, Gen. 19. Act. c. 27.Gen 19Acts 27whō ten good men might hauehave ſaued: as one Paul ſaued himſelfe and al his company in the ſhip. It is a true ſaying of Achior the Ammonite to Holofernes: If there be any fault in this people, ſo that they hauehave ſinned againſt their God, this ſhal be their ruine. Iudith. 5.Jdt 5Let vsus goe vp and we ſhal ouercome: but if there be none iniquity in this people, let my Lord paſſe by, leaſt their Lord defend them, and wee become a reproch. Al euil men & ſinners, al ſinful Kingdoms and nations though planted by him, yet ſhal be plucked vp by him, and they ſhall be all out of Gods protection, as it is written:Ieremy. 18.Jer 18 I wil ſpeak ſodenly concerning a nation, and concerning a Kingdom to build it & to plant it, but if it do euill in my ſight, and hear not my voice, I wil repēt of the good that I ment to thē. Ieſ. 7.Therefore if any commotion or wars be raiſed, it is becauſe the Lord hath hiſſed for the Fly, & the Bee out of the vttermoſt part of the world, & hath muſtered thoſe enemies againſt vsus for our ſinnes: if any euil come, it is becauſe we are euil. Chryſoſtom vponupon the words of Eſay, p. 184I ſaw the lord, Cap. 6. Hom. 1.maketh this queſtiō: What is the cauſe, that matters of the commō weal do not go forward wel? that they are not in a better caſe? The people anſwer, by the ouerſight & careleſnes of Magiſtrats, that bear office, but Chryſoſtome replieth: It is not the careleſnes of Princes, but ourvnrighteouſnes, puniſhment is exacted for our ſins, thoſe ſins do turn & tūble al things vpſide-down. They hauehave brought in all calamities whatſoeuer, they hauehave armed enimies: And a little after he demandeth thus: Why ſo? If the Prince bee a trāſgreſſor of Lawes, our raſhnes & rudenes, our offenſes hauehave procured this plague. And againe: Although the Prince be iuſt, yea as iuſt and as vertuous as Moſes: yet could not the righteouſnes of that one man couer the manifold ſinnes of ſo many rebelles, Exod. 32.Exod 32neither coulde the praier of Moſes chaunge the iuſt ſentēce of God. O that we were pure in Gods ſight, as our religion is pure out of his word! Such were the old Chriſtians our cuntrymen in the time of Conſtantine, of whom he giueth this report:Sozom. lib. 2. cap. 15. Nihil in moribus religionis huius eſt, quod reprehendi debeat: There is nothing, in the maners & conuerſation of this religion, which ought to be blamed, for theſe chriſtiās are contented only with the vnbloody vows or praiers to pacifie God, who is delighted not with ſhedding p. 185of blood, but reioiceth only in a mind pure & cleane, in the contemplation of vertue & godlines. Of theſe Chriſtians reporteth Plinie thē Lieuetenant vntounto Traian the Emperour, that hee found nothing in thē that was wicked, but that they would not worſhip Images,Enſebius. l. 3. cap. 3…. Teriul. in Apol. and that they riſe betime in the morning to praiſe chriſt as god, and that they kept their diſcipſine, as Euſebius alleadgeth out of Tertullian. Now if this doctrine bee true,Alaior. that Realmes and Kingdoms ſtand or fall by their religion or by the coutempt thereof: and if it bee as true,Minor. that we al are ſinners, and contemners, and not anſwerable to the former purenes of our forefathers:Concluſion▪ then what muſt be the concluſion vppon vsus, but miſery, plagues and ſcourges of God for our iniquities?

I come not hither to be Momus, or to wiſh a window into eueryevery mans hart and conſcience, to ſee eueryevery mans ſecret faults. I would there were not too many, too open in the ſight of the worlde, to the great diſpleaſure of Almighty God: of which giuegive me leaue to ſpeake a little, that we may not looſe the ſweetnes of this doctrine, and the fauour of our God, and the protection of this Realme.

But we muſt needs looſe it, if we doe not hereafter repent vsus: and eueryevery man in his calling walk accordingly. Though man wincke, p. 186Yet God ſeeth, & wil viſit the ſins of this land, which draw on with cartropes our ſpeedy deſtruction. In the beginning of the world, at the firſt fal of Adā God ſteppeth out to iudgement, and iudicially proceedeth againſt him, and his wife, and the ſerpent: & will he not now in the end of the world ſerue the ſame proceſſe againſt vsus: Wil he not ſay to eueryevery one of vsus, Adam, where art thou? Gen. 3.Gen 3wil he not cite Prince, Peers, and people? Yes verily, & that ſhortly, without ſpeedy & harty repentance.A particular citation of God againſt ſinners of this Land. To Magiſtrates and Iudges. He will cite rulers, Iudges, Nobles & Magiſtrates of this land, of whō he requireth iuſtice, that the innocent may be defended & cheriſhed, that the wicked be not iuſtified, and maintained, but condēned and puniſhed. You Honorable & Worſhipful ſhal find, or if you wil not, he wil find two kinds of theſe wicked men ſpecially in this land, godleſſe Atheiſts irreligious, others too religious or ſuperſtiouſly religious, fauourers rather of the Popiſh myter, thē of the Princely crown. Let iuſtice be done againſt both, Currat Lex, & vinat Rex: Let not your Lawes bee cobwebs, to catch the little flies, and to let the great ones break out.Anacharſis. If you Iudges of the earth wil hauehave God prouidently to care for you, you muſt zealouſly care for him. You know what vnderminers, & pioners hauehave crept in, what pirats hauehave ioyned themſelues with the gouernors & true p. 187mariners of this engliſh ſhip, ſeminary mē, like vntounto one Iohn Abbot, a profeſſour of Phiſicke, more preſūptuous then cunning. Hee promiſed vntounto Waldemarus King of Denmark preſent help, he cōmandeth all to depart out of the chā ber, he miniſtreth vntounto him a refection, or confection, or rather an infection,Saxo Gran… lib. 16. Hiſ…. Danicae. and willeth him to ſleepe, but it was woorſe then Tardemáh, the deadly ſleep of Saul, for they returning in again found him to be ſine voce, ſpeachleſſe and dead: Semblably,Ieſuites murdering Phiſicians. theſe Ieſuites hauehave promiſed vntounto the people of England (in ſecret corners, ſhutting vsus out of dozes,) ſospitatē, al health of body and ſoul, but it was ſospitate that Popiſh illuſio, that not only pickt our purſes, but is able to kil our ſouls: & ſhal theſe be nouriſhed amūg vsus, by whō the people hauehave bin bewitched, the realme of many a ſubiect robbed, the church troubled, the ſtate indaungered, our gracious Queene hazarded? I am no perſwader of crueley, but of ſeuerity, reaſonable, and requiſit in ſuch a caſe, that England may be rid of them. You may remember the general Lawes of Emperours againſt thoſe that do not communicate,Aug. cont. epiſt. Parmenian. c. 7. lib. 1. with the catholick church, but are gathered together in ſecret & ſeueral cōuenticles. We hauehave by theſe meetings & conferences many Nouices made in ſeminaries beyond the ſea, & many mo in od Seminaries at home, where they hauehave learned p. 188a new Catechiſme, a new religion, new leſſons of rebelling, of poiſoning, & other new kindes of murdering. Theſe younglings of the Pope will prooue to be whelpes of the Woolfe. Let them not grow, for ſuch wolues cannot agree with the ſheep of Chriſt. You are the Paſtors of our flock, mark the complaint of a ſeely ſheep in the greek Epigram, I giuegive milke with my vdders to a woolfe againſt my will, the folly of the ſheepherd compelleth me, but after he hath been fed vp, and growen big by me, he wil firſt turne againſt me, his nature cannot be chaunged by any curteſies. Therefore before this Citation come, be zealous for your God & for his law, otherwiſe the day of the lord wil come vpō al the Cedars of Libanō, be they neuer ſo high,Eſai. 2.Isa 2 vponupon al the Okes of Baſhan, be they neuer ſo ſtrōg, vpō y^e moūtains, & towers: I meane with the Prophet, the greateſt, the ſtrongeſt, the higheſt, ſhal be ſhaken in that day.

This Citation ſhall be ſet vponupon the dores of all Clergy men, that enter in by Simon Magus: …o Ckeargie …en.either be idle bellies, that will not: either be ignorant and cānot preach the word of God: either ſo couetous, that with Balaam had as leiue curſe as bleſſe our Iſrael. But theſe ſinners, as vntouched in my Text, I paſſe ouer: and yet it wil haſten Gods Citation.

This Citation wil reach to all the people of p. 189this Land: where ſhall be laid to their charge many thinges, many articles,To the people and to all. but I will touch that onelyonly which may be gathered out of this Text. A general ſleep,A general ſlumber… and ſecuritie. a drowſines and dronkē nes of the land. For as here not only Saul, but Abner & his whole hoſt are in a ſleepe: Euen ſo wee al from the greateſt vntounto the loweſt liue in ſecurity, which I fear wil be our vaine. A foul fault in rulers or captains in this our life which is a continual warfare. It is not for Agamēnō or y^e ruler to ſleep the whole night:Homer J… liadae. Plutarch. ad Principem indoctum. Epaminondas alone was in watch & ward vpō the wals, when the Thebans were feaſting. If the King of Perſia had eueryevery morning his chamberlaine ſaying: O King riſe, and hauehave care of thy buſineſſe, which Meſoro-Maſdes willeth thee: much more ought our gouernors be carefull in publick affaires of the church and the common weal, & in ſuch things as our God hath cōmanded. The law of Canutus was, that if the ſouldior appointed to watch & to keep his ſtanding, did ſo ſleepe,Saxo. Hist Dan. li. 10 that a man might take his weapon or apparel from him ſleeping, he had diſcipline, and puniſhmēt for it, & was thought vnworthy to be in the Kings ſeruice. Many Princes and Kings, yea and Kingdoms were taken and deſtroied by ſecurity. Iſboſheth ſleeping in his bed at Noon,2. Sam. 4. Iudic. 5.2 Sam 4Judg 5 by the ſons of Rimnon was ſmitten in the fift rib, and Siſera by Iael: and Scipio p. 190Affricanus and others. What realme hath not bin by ſecurity conquered? Grauely Cato, as Auſtine alleadgeth out of Saluſt againſt Catiline, De Ciuit. Dei lib. 5. cap. 12.amongſt other vices of the Romans, as riot, couetouſnes, ambitiō, hath theſe words: We folow idſenes and pleaſures at home, and hunt after mony and fauor of men, and therefore inferreth: Eo ſit, vt impetus fiat in vacuam Remp. hence cōmeth it, that eueryevery man may enter into the country, as voide, and open for eueryevery man. Balthazar at a feaſt rioting with his Nobles & concubines,Dan. 5.Dan 5 loſt his Kingdome, which paſſed from the Chaldeians to the Medes and Perſianes. Troia being drowned, and buried in wine & ſleepe, was taken & ſpoiled. Saxo Grāmaticus writeth, that ther is nothing more pernicious and hurtful in war, then careleſſe quietnes, diſſolute negligence, & bould and preſumptuous confidence. So Frotho a captain beſieging the City Peltiſca, by munition inuincible, by this policy took it. For he fained himſelf to be dead, and in token thereof his funerals were ſolemniſed:Saxo. Hiſt. Dan. lib. 1. whereupon Veſpaſius the King perſuaded, that this was true, in his ſecurity, ſports and plaies was ſlain. So we read of Hannibal, and his ſouldiours, as by manhood and paines they ouercame the Romanes at Cannae, ſo they loſt the victory by their effeminat and looſe behauiour afterward. So Britany or England p. 191was this way conquered by Iulius Caeſar, Saxo. li. 1…as before I touched, and in England Herald ſon of Godwine cauſed the army of the Danes to be ſlain in the night, whē they were faſt aſleep. In ſumme, that which Bernard ſaid of a Monk Dormientem Monachum Deo mortuum eſſe, Marullus. lib. 1. ca. 1…nec ſibinec vlli vtilem: ſo generally we may ſay, A man ſleepy and drowſy is a dead man, nether profitable to himſelfe, nor to others. I omit other tranſgreſſions of the Land, as periury, diſcord, diſſentions, hypocriſie in all eſtates, and other ſinnes, bicauſe they are not touched in my Text. Theſe and ſuch like ſins abound & raign in this Land. The whole body is thus diſeaſed and ſick from the ſole of the foot to the head, as Eſay complaineth ful of wounds and ſores and botches.Eſai. 1.Isa 1 God forbid that we ſhould not recouer out of this malady. If wee be vncureable, then muſt the Prophets Text conclude vponupon vsus as vponupon Iewes, Your Land is waſt, your cities are burnt, ſtraungers deuoure your Lande, you ſhal creepe out of corners like wormes out of their holes, Mich. 7.Mic 7you ſhal be troden down like myre in the ſtreetes.

Now, dearly beloued, what remedy hauehave we to cure our ſelues from theſe imminent daungers? Iuda can hauehave no help from AEgypt, if God bee diſpleaſed, there are but two waies propoſed by God,Deut. 30.Deut 30 either the right hand or the left, either life or death, good or euill. If you heape ſin vponupon ſin, if you turne to the left hand, you dy: if you repent, and keepe the right hand, you liue. There muſt be the beſt way deuiſed. Serpents and Eagles know many remedies to take away poiſon, and to driue away their euils, ſaith Origē. And again in the ſame place: Serpents vſe fenel to ſharpen & quicken their ſight:Origen contra Celſum lib. 4. the Eagles take y^e ſtone Aetites foūd out for the preſeruation of their yoūg ones, & cary it to their neſt. And is there no help nor remedy for vsus? Yes, dearly beloued, to return to him by repentance, from whō we hauehave by ſin departed: Quiſquis Deum offenderit, whoſoeuer ſhal offēd god,Thoeph. in Oſe. c. 5.Hos 5 he hath this only hope & help left, to be recōciled to him again. Walk therfore ſincerely in a ſingle heart before God, let rebels be ſubiects, let Papiſtes with the Epheſian exorciſts burn their magical maſſe-books: let ſuperiors oppreſſe no more, let the cold be inflamed with zeal of Juſtice & religion, let the drowſy ſluggards be watchfull againſt the euill day. Take heed al, that Saul wake not againe. He hath hitherto bin caſt into a deadly ſleepe by God. It is he that muſt continue him in that ſlūber. If we wil repent, he will hauehave mercy vponupon y^e houſe of Iuda, & wil ſaue England, yea the Lord will ſaue, not by bow, nor by ſworde, nor by battle, nor by horſes,Oſe. 1.Hos 1 nor by horſemen, but by himſelfe: which God grant: To whom &c.

End of the text · Laurence Humphrey, A View of the Romish Hydra (1588)