The Prophecy of Obadiah Opened and Applied — John Rainolds

The Prophecy of Obadiah Opened and Applied · John Rainolds

PSAL. 18. VER. 47, 48, 49, 50, 51.

47. The Lord liveth, and my blessed strength: therefore let the God of my salvation be exalted.

48 The mighty God, that giveth me revengements, and bringeth people vnderunder me.

49. That delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou hast exalted me aboue them that rose vp against me, thou hast delivered me from the cruell man.

50. Therefore will I confesse thee, O Lord, among the Gentil…, and I will s…g vntounto thy name.

51. He giveth great deliverances to his king, & sheweth mercy to his annointed; to David, and to his seed for ever.

IT hath beene a godly custome of the faithful, although not observed so customably alwaies as by aPhil 4 6. Col. 3. 17. 1. Thess. 5. 18.the Rules of faith it ought, that when they received any speciall benefit, either in attaining to things commodious for them, or … avoiding of discommodities: they lifted vp their voices to the authour of it, the Father of mercies, the God of all comfort, and did honour him with giving speciall thankes for it. Melchisedek king of Salem, a man of power and credit in the land of Canaan, had not so great cause to care for the state of Abram & Lot, two strangers in the land. Yet when Abram had rescued Lot being taken, and had spoiled the spoilers: Melchisedek brake forth into his praise who gaue the victorie; Blessed bee the high God, which hath delivered thine enimies into thy hand. The Gen. 14. 20.state of the Israelits touched Moses neerer: how much the lesse is it to be marvelled at, if he thought it his duty to magnifie the Lord for guiding them out of Egypt Exod. 15. 1.through the red Sea, and drowning Phara… with his host. Though that the childrē of Israel themselues, an vnthankfull, murmuring, and stif…ecked nation, should ioine therein with Moses, all, both men and women it is a president worthy to be noted to the shame of Christiās, if in greater measure of the grace of God we shew lesse gratitude for his graces. The feasting & ioy that the Iewes kept for their owne deliverance out of the snares of Haman, and for his destruction with Est. 9. 17.the partakers of his conspiracie, might seeme to bee only a pro…ne reioycing as worldly …ded men c… monly doe vse at their good successes. But, that it was holy and seasoned with a sacrifice, such a sacrifice as lawfully they might offer there, where then they were dispersed, the circumstance of sending parts vntounto the poore, with precepts and examples of daies in like sort Deut. 16. 14. …. … 11.kept holy to the Lord, doth argue. Wee are assembled at this present, fathers and brethren, beloued in the Lord, to giuegive him most humble & most harty thanks for his great and singular goodnesse shewed vntounto vsus in discovering the traiterous intent of graceles wretches, who vilanously conspired to take away the life of our gracious Queene (whom God long preserue!) & to kindle flames of vprores through the realme, to the vtter wasting of her faithfull subiects. O that wee had the hearts to praise him for it with the like religious affection of spirit in zeale and sinceritie, as Melchisedek did for Lot recovered by Abram, as Moses and the Israelites for the Egyptian yoke broken, as the Iewes for their safety and the destruction of their enimies! Sure we h…ue greater causes so to doe, then any of them had. For Lot was but one, and that a meane man: nor much indangered more then of losse of libertie. Here a most excellent Princesse was in hazard, not of libertie, but of life, with God knoweth how many righteous Lots besides. And the bodily t…s which the Israelites endured in Egypt vnderunder the taske-mast…s that Phara… placed over them, were nothing in comparison of the spirituall bondage of Antichristian tyrants, to whom, might these Egyptian imp… h… had their wills, we should (it is likely) h…e beene most lamentably enthralled. Neither hath the Lord so mercifully delivered vsus out of the Lions mouth at this time onelyonly, but at sundry other heretofore often: that the Iewes could not be so much beholding to him for that of Haman, who did not liue to put them more then once in danger. Wherefore that wee may accept the more thankfully and dutifully esteeme of his inestimable goodnesse, in saving our gracious Queene and vsus her subiects from so great, so many, so … M…iefs; I hauehave thought good to take for the ground of mine advertisement and exhortation, these wordes, which you hauehave heard, written by the godly Prince and Prophet David in the eighteenth Psalme, aso…g of thanksgiving, which he made, when the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enimies, & out of the hand of Saul. Forso is it noted in the title thereof; and manifested farther by the course of the story i… the second of Samuel, where the same is wholly registred againe wellnigh word for word, as a most worthy and memorable monument to bee thought vponupon eft…s of all 2. Sam. 22. 1.posteritie, that on like favour received of the Lord they might shew themselues alike gratefull to him. In these words therefore comprehēding briefly the purport and … of the whole Psalme by way of conclusion, two things are recomm… to our considerations: one is the benefite of God in delivering David from his enimies; the other, the thankfulnes of David vntounto God for the deliverance. The benefit of God in delivering David is signified by that he faith. The Lord … … … … … that the Lord … … spec… of his being, his everlasting …, … wh… sense notwithstanding be is said to liue, and to … ly: Act 14. 15. …. 106. & 157. …. …. 6. 16.but in respect of his workes, his effects to David ward, in whose preservatiō he sheweth that he …? and saueth his and ruleth all things by his … providence. Which meaning David openeth in that hee adioineth, and my blessed strength: calling God his strength, his fortresse, his rocke, his blessed strength and fortresse, his rocke, his blessed strength and fortresse, because his life, his safety, his welfare is maintained by the might and mercy of the living God. As in the beginning he testified also: The Lord is my rocke, and my kPsal. 18. 2.fortresse, and my deliverer, my God, my strength in whom I will trust, my shield, and the horne of my salvation, my refuge. And this is the benefit of God vntounto David. The thankfulnesse of David vntounto God followeth: Therefore let the God of my salvation be exalted. Wherein, by the way, the cause of his thankfulnesse, to wit, the benefit, is repeated. For though in our tongue the name of salvation is by commō vse referred to the blissefull state of life eternal in the kingdome of heavē, wherto the scripture phrase doth likewise oft referre it: yet is it amplified in the 1Heb. …Prophets lāguage heere to bodily safetie and temporall preservation of this present life. As 2…salvatiōs also are afterward mētioned, or (as our English translation interpreteth it) deliverances: & before, lVers. 51.he set downe the generall proposition with the mVers 3.same word, I call vponupon the Lord who is worthy to bee praised, and I am 3…safe from mine enimies. VntoUnto this author then of his safety hee rendreth praise and honour: and that in such sort as may stir vp others therevnto withall, that God by the thankesgiving of more may bee more glorified, let him be exalted. To the performance of the which dutie, that he may giuegive a sharper edge & hotter zeale to himselfe and others; he amplifieth and openeth more particularly both the cause of the duty and the dutie it selfe, in the verses following. Touching the cause of the dutie, he saith, The mighty God, that giueth me reuengemēts, & bringeth people vnderunder me, that deliuereth me from mine enimies: yea, thou hast exalted me aboue them that rose vp against me, thou hast deliuered me from the cruel man. A summary but pithy rehearsal of the specialties of the fauour done him by God against n1. Sam. 18. & 19. & 23. & 24 & 26.Saul, against o2 S… 2 & 3. & 4.Sauls sonne Ish-bosheth, against the p1 Sam. 5 & 8Philistines, the q2. Sam. 8.Moabites, the r2 Sam. 8 10.Syrians, the s2 Sam 8. & 10 & 11.Ammonites, the t1. Sam 30. & 2 Sam. 3.Amalekites, and the u2. Sam. 8. Psal. 60Idumaeans, against x2. Sam. 15. & 17 & 18.Absolon, against y2. Sam. 20.Sheba, with their rebellious complices of Israel & Iuda too. Of whom a great many were punished in iustice: the Lord avenging him of some, by other mens hands; of some, by his owne, as being armed therevnto with bRom. 13 4the sword of vengeance. The rest, though their liues were spared in mercy, yet were they brought in awe and subiection vnderunder him. So himselfe, his enimies either not remaining or not remaining enimies, at the least not daring to practise their enmitie, was delivered from them. Yea, (which ^• 2 Sam 4. 8.he vttereth more emphatically by turning of his ^• 2 Sam. 10. 18 & 18. 31.speech to God) God did exalt him and advance him higher then any of his adversaries, that rose vp against him, and delivered him from Saul, who of long time pursued him most fiercely & put him oft in presēt dā ger Heb. the man of violences 2. Sam. 22 49.of his life, from the cruel, violent, the most violent man. Touching his duty wherevpon, he addeth, Therefore will I confesse thee, o Lord, among the Gentiles; and I will sing vntounto thy name: hee giueth great deliverances to his king, and sheweth mercy to his anointed; to David & to his seed for ever. To confesse the Lord, is to acknowledge him to bee the author and giver of whatsoever good we hauehave: to sing vntounto his name, is with ioyfull melodie of voice to acknowledge it. But these things doth David vow that he will do: and therein will testifie, even before the Gentiles, that the Lord, who made him king and anointed him, doth giuegive him great deliverances, and sheweth him mercy, nor only him, but his too, his seed, his posteritie and progenie for ever. The very literal sense of the which words doth import an excellent thankfulnesse in David, that would yeeld such tokens thereof, among the Gentiles, the heathens, whom hee had subdued: a more excellent goodnesse and graciousnes in Psal.: 8. 43.God, who raised him to royall state, and mightily preserved him in it, and rid him out of many dangers, and shewed mercy still to him, yea to his of spring also that should raigne after him. But all this is base in respect of that which the holy Ghost in a spirituall meaning doth hereby signifie & betoken. For David was anointed king of the Iewes, made conquerour of the Gentiles, cast into perils, troubles, paines of death, & by speciall grace againe delivered from them, to the intent hee might be a figure (as we tearme it) an image and picture, an historicall picture, and a living image, that should resemble and represent the person of another dEzek. 34. 23. & 37. 24.David, eIer. 23. 5. & 33. 15.his sonne, our Saviour Christ. Which mystery fAct. 2. 30.himselfe knowing as a Prophet, did write (by inspiration from God) sundry things, whereof the full & perfit accomplishment appeareth in Christ & his kingdome, as gMat. 27. 35. Mat. 12. 10. Ioh. 2. 17. & 19 28. Act. 4. 25. & 13. 23. Rom. 15. 3… Heb. 2. 12., & 10 5.the scriptures teach vsus: though a thinne & slender performance of the same was before expressed and drawn out, as it were, by lineaments & shadowes of a type and figure in David and his state. So the great deliverances and salvations temporall, given and assured to David, and to his seed for ever after a sort, that is for long continuance of many yeares succession, did prefigure greater spiritual deliverāces, & salvatiōs simply & absolutely eternal, which should be likewise givē to Christ & to his hEsai, 53, 10. Ier. 33. 22.seed; that is, to iIoh. 1. 12.the faithful, the chil drē of God, whō k2. Cor 5 20.Christ doth beget in his church l1. Pet. 1. 23.by the inunortall seed of his word. To mGen. 3. 15.Christ & to his nRom. 16. 20.seed is given the treading downe of the Serpent, oRev. 12 7.the overthrow and victory of Satan and his Angels. To p1. Cor. 15 v. 25.Christ and to qv. 55.his seede is death quelled, the graue vanquished, the power of hell daunted, and all their enimies put to flight. To rMat 4. 6.Christ and to sHeb. 1. 14his seede is tPsal. 91 12a guard of Ang… appointed for their safety, uHeb. 9. 12. & 10 19.an entrance into Heaven opened, and xPsal 16. 11. Act. 2. 28. Rev. 21. 4.the ioies of life, of everlasting solace, of endlesse rest, assured. Which most excellent mercies, deliverances, salvations, as the Prophets commonly in the ende of their prophecies do commende to men by figuratiue speeches of Israël, of Iuda, of Sion, of Ierusalem, and blessings incident thereto: so in this conclusion of his song of thankes doth David ascende to them by the other, to shewe himselfe gratefull vntounto God for them. A proofe whereof we hauehave in the last words that he concludeth with. For therein he seemeth to respect the promise, that y2. Sam. 7. 12.the Lord would set vp his seed after him, and stablish the throne of his kingdome for ever. Which the Angel Gabriel, sent to the Virgin Mary, expoundeth of Christ, telling her that zLuk. 1. 32.God shall giuegive vntounto him the throne of his Father David, and he shall raigne over the house of Iacob for ever, and of his kingdome shall be no end. And a farther proofe in the former clause touching his confessing of God among the Gentiles: considering that S. Paul? declareth the goodnes of Christ in aRom. 15. 9.receiving the Gentiles to his glory to be meant thereby. As if the holy Prophet had said, that he would vse a new and vnaccustomed thankefulnesse to God for his passing singular and vnspeakable benefits: neither would confesse him among the Iewes onelyonly, as then the faithfull did according to their order of praying in the Temple; but among the Gentiles also in time to come, whē they being called to the church of Christ should be made acquainted with his Psalms & Hymnes and learne to praise the Lord with him. So that I may say the same of these words, that on like occasion our Saviour did of other, bLuk. 4. 21.This day is this scripture fulfilled in your eares. Howbeit not onelyonly these wordes of this Scripture are fulfilled this day: but the other too, that lay forth the favour of God vntounto his childrē in saving his anointed. For what more commodity did the Iewes receiue by King Davids meanes, then we by our sove raigne Lady Queene Elisabeths? What enimies, what dangers, what deaths did he escape, frō the like wherof the Lord hath not as often, as wonderfully, preserved her Maiesty? The arke of the covenant, wherein cExod. 25. 16the testimony was laid, whereon the mercy-seat was placed, from which dNum. 7. 89.the voice of God was hard, at which e2. Sam. 6. 2.his name was called vponupon, whereto f1. Chr. 13 3.they had not sought in the daies of Saul, g2. Sam 6 …2King David brought into his city: and caused h1. Chr. …. 1…the Levites ioyfully to play on instruments of musicke, and lift vp their voices at the bringing of it. Queene Elisabeth hath brought vsus the body and truth of that where of his ceremonies were but shadowes onelyonly, the free vse and Christian doctrine of the Gospell, the word of God, the holy Scriptures, the praiers and publike service of the Highest, all in a language knowne to all: and hath moved her Subiects to receiue these meanes of their instruction and ^k salvation with ^l Psalmes, & hymnes, and spirituall songs, singing i1. Cor. 14. 19 2. Tim. 3. 15. Col. 3. 16.with a grace in their harts vntounto the Lord David to those heavenly treasures added earthly, & enriched his kingdome with silver and gold. The purity of coine restored by her Maiesty for brssae and copper monies m2 Sam. 8 1…. & 12 30.wherewith shee found the realme pestered, doth say no lesse for her: beside plate of siluer and gold with other ornamēts in so great plenty, as if God would verifie according to the letter that which hee promised his Church in a mysterie, ⁿ For brasse will I bring gold, Esai. 60 17.and for yron will I bring silver. Much did it make for the safety of Iurie, that ^o David put garisons in Syria & Idumaea, countries that bordered vponupon the North and …. 3.South thereof. Much! But more for England, that Elisabeth (to passe over the fortifying of borders) hath furnished it with all sort of armour, and munition, never more or better: and thereto with a royall navie of vessels, so stately, so strong so wel appointed for wars, that our land is fensed with wals, not only of wood P as Herodot. in Polymnia.Graecia was against Xerxes, but of brasse and yron too against foreine enimies. The people of Israel confes sed of themselues that ^q they were delivered out of the 2. Sam. 19. 9.hād of the Philistines, & other enimies by that King. The wars which our Queene hath had for our safegard in Frāce & elsewhere, even rLod. …. a…d. it. … …. de … memora… … …. …op lib. …. …. …. … l…. 16. & 17. Comment. de stat. rel. & reip…n Gal. lib. 5. & 6aliens hauehave seen & shewed to the world, that they were atchieved with marvellous honour and advantage to her selfe and her realme. As this (by Gods grace) which shee hath presently sThe Queens declarat touching … given to the low cu…t ….vponupon the like ground in the low countries, shal be in due time also. Againe, how sweet a peace hauehave we so long enioyed vnderunder her at home, as vnderunder a t1. King. 4. 25Solomon in that cōsideratiō rather thē a David? The fruits whereof, if nothing from abroad had sprong to our wealth and welfare (which hath notwithstanding in no small abundance) might countervaile the profites u2. Sam 8. ….that did grow to Iurie by Davids warres & victories. Yea our dearth and sicknes, the chastisements and afflictions that now we do taste, or did heretofore, (as xHeb. 12. 7.needes we must some, and yPs. 119 71.expedient we should) hauehave been but gentle threats to her Maiesties subiects, in respect of his: z2. Sam. 21. 1.the famine, that lasted three yeares togither; the a2. Sam. 24. 15plague, that consumed seaventy thousand men. And though by occasion of difficulties and wants, what of men, what of maintenance, her Highnes hath not yet bin able to provide that wise and faithful worke men, for the perfit edifying of the house of God with doctrine and discipline, shoulde bee set in every Church through her dominion; as neither was ^b David by reason of his warres to build vp the Temple: yet, as hee 1. Chr. 22. 8.prepared things necessary for it, that it might bee the better done when time should serue; so hath shee by fostering Colleges and Schooles, the nurseries of the ministerie. Her princely care wherof hath appeared specially of late vntounto vsus in a branch of Oliue, that was almost withered, the state of Queenes College. Which she hath refreshed, confirmed, advanced, with benefits & immunities so bountifully and noblely: that we & our posterity hauehave as iust cause to thinke of Queene Elisabeth in the name thereof, as of Queene Philippa. Our whole Oliue tree did generally feele it before in the famous and worthy Act of Parliament c18. El c. 6.for the maintenance of Colleges and the reliefe of Scholers in both the Vniversities, and also Winchester and Eaton. An Act that I hauehave heard men of iudgement say, and I am persivaded that they said truely (God grant the care of Heads and industrie of Students doe bring it to effect!) may proue as beneficiall for the increase of learning, as might the erecting at least of two Colleges. The cō modities then, which we hauehave receaued by her blessed governement, are as great and many, as those which the Iewes did receaue by Davids. That we cannot chuse but acknowledge Gods favour to hauehave beene as singularly extended vntounto vsus in preserving her, as it was to them in preserving him. For although her Maiestie hath not beene assaulted by so many forraine enimies as David: yet by more domesticall. Wherein her deliverances are to bee esteemed so much the more precious, by how much it is easier to beware of open foes, then of secret; of vipers that are farther of, then in our bosomes; of d2 Sam. 2. 22.Abners, though valiant, who professe hostilitie, then of trecherous e2. Sam 3. 27. & 20. 9.Ioabs, who pretend amitie. First (in Queen Maries time) the house of Saul, I mean the brood of them who f1. Sam. 15. 21preferre will-worships before obedience to God, fearing, as g1 Sam. 20. 31Saul did, that their seeds succession should not be established as long as David lived, desired & devised to bring that to passe which hD. Story. Sander. visib. Monar. lib. 7.one of them sithence made mone it was not done, the boughs were cut of, the root was not hewed vp. But the axe, which he wished to the plesant root, fel on the root of bitternes his owne hairie scalpe: the devises of the wicked were disappointed by the Lord, and their desires frustrated. Afterward the vsurper, the Ish-bosheth of Rome, indeed an *That is to say, amā of shame & confusion.Ish-bosheth, when She was anointed and setled in her throne, sought to dispossesse her by his accursed curse & Antichristian sentence declared and published in his Bul. Moorton sent from him, to stirre vp wicked spirits to the executing of it. The Earles of Northumberland and West-merland in armes, with thousands of rebels. When they were fled and scattered: their outrage renued by Dacres and his legion. The Bull it selfe proclaimed, as it were, by …elton, to gather more conspiratours to it. All in vaine still. For the hand of the Lord was over his handmaid, and made his word good, that iProv. 26. 2.the vndeserved curse came not vponupon her: … kPs. 109. 17.came to them who louedit, & they were clothed with it as with a garment. Now what should I say of the traitours in Ireland? of Stukeley the rakehell mPontificiu, Piaefectus, Marchio Hi berniae Gene brard. Chron lib 4.the Popes Irish Marques, sent thither to subdue it, slaine in Barbarie by the way; of Sanders the Priest, the firebrād of sedition, dead there agreeably to his life; of the arch rebels, the Earle of Desmond, and his brother, served both like n2. Sam. 20 22Sheba; of the whole rabble of their mates and souldiers, Italian, Spanish, Irish, feeling by the vengeance of deserved miseries the folly and f…ie of their …ewd attempts. What of the brainesicke youth, Summerfields Whose enterprise in substance like vntounto Achitophels, did purchase o2. Sam. 17 23Achitophels event and end vntounto him. What of Parry, the proud miscreant? who hauing opportunity to worke his divelish vow, & being resolute to do it, pThe declarat. of W. Parries treasons.the Pope incensing him with allowance of the fact & plenary pardō of his sins, the Cardinal of Como with cōmēdatiō & request the Papists some with counsel, some with praier for him, some with remēbrāce at the altar; & Allens traiterous libel making it cleere in his cōscience, that it was lawful and meritorious, every word therein a warrant to a mind prepared: there was but q1 Sam 20 3.a step between her & death, had not God bewrayed him by his Ionathā, & by the hād of iustice given him that meed which his vow did merit. An intent as mischievous & more potēt means had the next conspiracie, rThe disco verie of Fr. Throcmort. treasons, &cwhich, dealt in before by Fr. Thorckemortō, was after prosecuted by others. The Popes aide (as alwaies) ready, to gaine kingdomes; the Spanish Kings assistāce; the Duke of Guyse with forces to invade the realm; the plots of coasts & havens for his fit arrival; the names of Recusāts with hope of their furtherāce; the heathens …aging, & the people murmuring, kings bāding thēselus, & princes taking coūsel against the Lord & his anointed. Yet evē in that also, were their powers & policys never so out-reaching, there shewed himselfe aboue thē a mightier & wiser: sPsal. 2. 4.who sitteth in the heauens, & laugheth thē to scorne, discovering and dispersing the smoaky puffes of their endevors. Which of his accustomed goodnes and bounty he hath done in this to, the last, & I beseech God it be the last, that now he hath disclosed. In the discomfiting wherof, & of the former, his out-stretched arme hath appeared the more glorious, because the vnderminers of her Maiesties state hauehave cloaked their attempts with pretence of Religiō, & salvation of souls, most suttle means & forcible to inveigle men: &, to steale away her subiects hearts frō hir, hauehave reconciled thē to hir deadly enimie as to their soveraign Pastor: & made thē sure vntounto him by badges & pledges of halowed graines, of medals, of beads, of Agnus-deis, of crucifixes, of pictures, with *A Po…sh e… bleme … A theists. See Prov. 23. 26.Fili, da mihi cor tuū, et sufficit, Son, giuegive me thy heart, & it sufficeth, & other such spiritual sorceries. A practise more dangerous thē any of Davids adversaries did vse, yea thē t2 Sam 15 1.Abso lom himselfe, the cunningst of thē all; who had no High Priests that woulde take vponupon thē to depose David; nor meritoriousnesse to see devils incarnate with to murder him; nor uThe Popes Bull granted to D. Harding & others, anno Dom 1567autorities for Harding, & others, to assoile thē that would revolt frō him; nor xThe exec. of iustice in Eng for treason.faculties for Parsons, & Campian, to instruct thē to *Ne Bulla P…j Quinti oblige… Catholicos rebus sic stantibus: as they sto…d anno Dom. 1580.obey, or *Tum dem… quando pub lica eiusdem Bullae exequutio fieri poteti….rebell, as things should fall out; nor Iesuits, & Seminary Priests, (like the yAugustin. cont. epist. Parmen. l. …. …. 9 & l. 3. c 6.Donatists) to spread seditious doctrine, and beare the world in hand, that zBristow Mo tiu. 15. C… certat. eccl. cath in Angl. ad vers. Cal…. … Pu…it. Eccle siae Anglics nae t…ophaea. Ro…ae.whē they were punished for it, they were Martyrs. Wherefore al the words of the text that I treate of, which doe lay before vsus the most provident care & fatherly louelove of God in saving & delivering our most excellent Princesse out of the hand of her enimies, of Papists, of Atheists, of Malecontents, base noble; secret & open; external & domesticall; are fulfilled & verified in our eares this day. It remaineth that the rest, which concerne our duty to God for this benefit, be likewise fulfilled & verified in our eares, or in our hearts rather, nay both in harts & bodies also. The foremost degree & step wherevnto is to acknowledge that the Lord, our blessed strength, our mighty God, is the autor of …: it is he that liveth, that saveth his anointed, that giueth her revēgemēts, that bringeth people vnderunder her, that deliuereth her frō her enimies, frō the cruell man, that exalteth her aboue thē who rise vp against hir, that giueth great deliverances, & sheweth mercy to her, yea to al his servants, the childrē of God, the seed of Christ, for ever. And this hath our Soveraigne provoked vsus to do by her owne example: aThe Q…eens …euers to the L. Mayor of Lond. and his brethren.ascribing not only the present detection & apprehension of traitours to the great & singular goodnes of God; but also the infinit blessings laid vponupon her, as many as ever Prince had, yea rather as ever creature had. The Lord hath indued her Maiesties person with most rare prudence; her state with Coūsailers very wise & faithfull; her Realme with many thousands of dutiful loving subiects. Nor is it to be doubted out that sundry circumspect eies & loiall hands of these hauehave bin occupied in finding out & bringing to light the conspiracy. Yet because the Lord is bIam. 1. 17.the father of lights, & c1 Cor. 4 7.what hath any mā that he hath not received? neither cā he effectuate ought with that he hath except the Lorde blesse it, dPsal. 127. 1except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the Lord keepe the city, the keeper watcheth in vaine: therefore doth her Highnes in the meanes thēselues & aboue the means acknowledge the working of the principall agent, vnderunder whose protection her selfe resteth safe, & seeth vengance powred on thē that wish her evill. Which I woulde to God the disloiall harts, if there be any more yet, of that brood of Cockatrices, did acknowledge also: &, as ePs. 4 4.the Prophet willeth, did weigh it with thēselues, & thinke vponupon their bed of it. Then were it to be hoped that in consideration thereof they would be still: and after f1 Sā. 24. 5 & 26 8.his example, whose advise that is, detest the very breath of such as make mention of laying violent hands vponupon the Lords anointed. For though it were true, as gThe ans. to the ex… of iust cap. 5.the traiterous libeller endeavoureth to perswade men, that the Popes sentence against her were as lawfull, as Samuels was against Saul; which yet is most false, and hD. Bilsō of Christiā …ubiect. part. 3.proued so to be; but grant it were true: yet had they to remember that David did refraine to lay hands on Saul after Samuels sentence; neither of humanitie only, but of duty: i1. Sā. 26 9for who cā lay his hand on the Lords anointed (saith he) & be giltles? At least, if they would not be still, as he was, for conscience sake, yet for kRom 13. 4feare they might be: seeing that lEccl. 10. 20.a foule of the aire shal cary the voice & a bird shall declare the matter, if they but speak euil of the king, yea in their thought, much more if they intend to doe him any evil. And sure, mPs. 7. 12.if they turne not, if they whet their swords, bend their bowes and make them ready, & getting thēselues deadly weapons prepare their arrows for persecutors: they hauehave travelled with lewdnesse and conceiued mischiefe, to bring forth a lie; into the pit, that they hauehave digged, they shall fall; their mischiefe shall returne vponupon their owne heads, and on their …wne pates shall their crueltie light. For God doth giuegive revengements vntounto his anointed, and sheweth mercy to his Queen advancing her aboue them who rise vp against her. But whether they doe vse this benefit of God to their good, or no: let vsus, my deere brethren, let vsus & our houses (as nIos 24. 15Iosua said) serue the Lord. And that not by acknowledging only Gods goodnesse in this and all his benefits, the foremost steppe to thankfulnesse: but the next also, I meane, by confessing of him among the Gentiles, and singing to his name with yeelding him all glory for it. For the Heathens thēselues, in that smal knowledge of God which sin left thē, did acknow ledge him to be the worker & autor of the cōmodities that they had. In the Greeke Poets oforeign.the Gods are surnamed, by a cōmō title, the givers of good things. pPlin. hist nat. lib. 15. cap. 30.The Captaines of the Romanes having conquered their enimies, took part of the lawrel (which they did beare in signe therof) & laid it in the lap of Iupiter. The Caldaeā king subdued divers nations, took their holds, spoiled their cities, seazed on their wealth, qHab. 1 11ascribing that his power & force to his God. But rRō. 1. 21.they did not glorifie God as they ought, neither were thankfull. They robbed him of his honour and gaue it vntounto s1. Cor. 8 5many Gods, tDan. 5. 4.their owne Idols, & uRō. 1. 23.Images of mortal creatures. Yea part of the lawrel they kept to thēselues: xHab. 1. 16sacrificing to their nets, & burning incense to their yarne, because by thē their portion was fat & their meate plenteous. The time of this ignorance is overpast, brethrē, & the daies are come wherof it was yEsa. 11. 9.prophecied, that the earth should be ful of the knowledge of the Lord, as waters cover the sea. How much the more excuselesse shall our fowle ingratitude & vngodlines be: if we be no thankfuller to him then the Heathens, thē the Greeks, the Romans, the Caldaeans were. Chiefly sith beside the temporall benefit of the preservation of our Prince and vsus, wee hauehave received graces more excellent & precious to endure for ever: name ly, the enioying of his Sonne Christ Iesus, z1. Cor. 1, 30.our wisdome, our righteousnes, our sanctificatiō, our redēptiō; the Spirit of adoption, aRō. 8. 15.whereby we hauehave boldnes to cry Abba father; the peace of conscience, tranquillity of mind, contentednes of heart; the inheritāce immortal, vndefiled, & that withereth not; the cōfort, the protectiō, the assurāce of his louelove: in a word so many blessings both of this life, & of the life to come, as never any natiō vnderunder heavē greater. Wherfore I beseech you by the mercies of God, who spared not his own Son for our sakes, but gaue him to the death, the vile death of the crosse, that we might liue through him: let vsus confesse him sincerely & faithfully, bTit. 1. 16.not only in words, but in deeds; & confesse him among the Gentiles, evē those which are strā gers & aliēs frō the faith, that we may win thē to the Lord. Let c1. Pet. 2. 12.our cōversatiō be honest amōg thē: that by our good works, which they shall see, they may glorifie God in the day of the visitatiō. Let vsus cast away profane songs of wantonnes, of lightnes, of vanity; & sing vntounto his name: vsing both our voice & speech in al respects dEph. 5. 3.as it becōmeth Saints. To be short, let vsus shew, let vsus striue to shew by al parts of duty a thankfull acceptance of the great saluatiōs, that he hath wrought for vsus, & zealous remēbrance of the end wherto: eLuk 1. 75that we being deliuered out of the hand of our enimies, should serue him without feare, in holinesse & righteousnes before him all the daies of our life. The godly Prince & Prophet, whose vertuous example as in al the rest, so in this specially should be a spurre vntounto vsus, calling into mind how God had delivered his soule frō death, his eies frō teares, & his feet from falling, brake out into these words: fPs. 116 12What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me? I will take &c. Neither said he more therein, thē he performed. For when g1. Chro. 16. 2.he had offered sacrifices of thanksgiuing, he made a holy banket therewith vntounto the people, in remēbrance of the manifold safeties & deliuerances, that hee had received. He praised the Lord, & called vponupon his name: his Psalmes doe witnesse it to this day. hPs 57. 2He promised that he would iudge righteously: i2. Sā 8. 15he did it. kPs 132. 2He vowed to bring the arke into a place of rest: l2. Sā. 6 16he brought it. How great cause we hauehave, fathers, & brethrē, to say as he said. What shal we render so the Lord? your selues do wel know. How small care wee shew of doing as he did, in praising God, & paying our vowes before his people: the world doth see. Our slacknes in frequē ting of sermons, of praiers, of celebrating the Lord supper, & taking the cup of the salvatiō of salvations, I wish it were amended rather then reproved. We hauehave made vowes and promises to God, al, of perpetual holines in baptisme: some of special duties, in their several callings. And is it to be hoped that every one of vsus, though not with Davids zeale, yet with some measure of it, will pay them to the Lord? Sure the greater hope thereof is to be had, if that, which hath been moved of order to be takē for ordinary sermons & preaching of the word on our Sabbath-daies in the afternoone, not the forenoone only, may be effected by the godly forwardnes of thē who should say, mHeb. 6. 3And this will we doe if God permit. The father of mercies & God of al cōfort, who hath raised vntounto vsus a most glorious light, & placed a most gracious Princesse in the throne of government among vsus, sanctifie vsus throughout with his holy spirit: that we may offer vp the sacrifices of righteousnes, the fruits of our lips, of our harts, of our hands, to the glory of his name for all his benefits powred on vsus And … hath hitherto giv… … … deliuerances & shewed mercy to his anointed: so be … we him for his Son our Saviors sake to do it stil. Saue her, O Lord, saue her out of the hād of al her enimies. Let their root be as rottēnes & their b…d as dust who rise vp against her. Blesse her with the zelous spirit of Iosias, with the peace of Solomō, with the years of David that she may long raign a godly, a happy, an ancient Mother in Israel. Finally continue thy fatherly louelove & favour towards her for ever, & towards vsus her subiects, the childrē of thy covenant: that wee both in this life & in the life to come may cōfesse thy good nes & sing vntounto thy name with thy blessed Servāts & …lect Angels, nRev. 7. 12Praise & glory & wisdome, & thanks, & honor, & power, & might, be vntounto our God for evermore.

Amen

End of the text · John Rainolds, The Prophecy of Obadiah Opened and Applied (1613)

The Prophecy of Obadiah Opened and Applied, Sermon 11