A Looking Glass for Princes and Peoples Delivered, Title page 1 – Book 1

A Looking Glass for Princes and Peoples Delivered · Title page 1 – Book 1

A LOOKING GLASSE▪

For Princes and People.

Delivered in a Sermon of Thankesgiving for the Birth of the hopefull Prince CHARLES.

And since augmented with Allegations and Historicall Remarkes.

Together with a Vindication of Princes, &c.

By M. WILLIAM STRVTHER Preacher at Edinburgh.

Psal. 2. Bee wise, O Kings▪

Printed at Edinburgh, by the Heires of Andro Hart. 1632.

TO THE MOST HIGH, AND MIGHTY KING: CHARLES OF GREAT Britaine, Defender of the Faith, &c.

Most Dread Soveraigne,

BOth these Arguments craue your Ma. kyndlie patrocinie: as Father of that Prince, whose birth occasioned the Thanksgiving: And Sonne of that King, who went before all Kings, in vindicating royall Authoritie▪

Gods Providence over Man (his last Creature in time, but first in LoueLove) is so great; that his care of other Creatures comparatiuely seemeth a Neglect: Hee hath distinguished him in Order and Degrees: Rom. 13. 1. Proverb. …. …6.Rom 13:1Gathered him in Societies: And perfited these Societies with an supereminent power. That Head giveth a natiue influence to its Bodie, and the Bodie subiecteth it selfe to that Head.

Wee bring this Law from the Wombe written in our Hearts; and Christ confirmed it by Word and Example: Hee disposed so his Birth at Bethlehem, that at once hee fulfilled his Fathers promise, and obeyedMicah. 5. 2▪ Luc. 2. ….Mic 5:2Luke 2 Augustus Edict beeing taxed in his Mother: The Church for ten Ages followed her Head in that Obedience. Though her Worke bee Heavenly by the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven, to winne Matth. 16. Iohn. 10 …bros ▪de dig. Sacerd, cap. …. Ibid. cap. 2.Matt 16John 10Soules …o Go…t; and her Reward bee to sit on Thrones, and judge the Tribes of Israel: Yet shee gaue to Caesar the things that are Caesars. And though Ambrose say, that Sublimitas Episcopalis nullis potest comparationibus aequari And nihil esse in hoc s…c…do sublimiius sacerdote; yet hee both practised and perswaded obedience to Princes.

But Bab…l confounded all: And Antichrist (in a more fearefull Collision of the Civill and Ecclesiastick Powers, then the two Hills in Marius & Sylaes Vtrum mai…r dignitas pradia dividendi an peccata di… …ittendi. Co… …d. lib. 1. August. Cavit 2…. 6. Vni…u… in orbe I…p. Rex. … nium que Princip… s… pr… …um. &c. Marta. I…ris. Epist dedi…. Paul. 5. Suarez defen. 6. 6. …ellar. Apol.time) trod the honor of Princes in the dust: he thought it greater to divide Lands, than remit sins; and thurst himselfe in their Thrones: Hee exposed their Kingdomes to violence; and their sacred Persons and Authoritie to contempt:: These insolencies might seeme tolerable in times of blindnesse, as S. Austine speaketh of Romulus Apotheosing: But now after so long contest, they maintaine them. Their Advocate affirmeth, & Paul the fifth approved it, That he is the onelie Emperour and King; the Superiour of all Kings, from whom all Iurisdiction floweth. What ever in danger they deny; or in necesitie they mitigate, this is the just Modell of their Pope, and the prime Article of their faith.

That Luciferian pride was so eminent in Popes, that it is hard to know, whether to wonder more at the Impudencie of Christs Vicar vsurping, or the patience of Princes suffering. Poperie was never further from the Truth, and meeknesse of Iesus, then since it was Iesuited: That name is not a denomination of a new Zeale or goodnesse, but the maske of exquisite craft and crueltie; and the tincture of impenitencie: AndCypr. de Ie…u…. as the Apostle maketh the opposition of Christus and Antichristus; and Cyprian of Spiritus and Antispiritus, somay wee of Iesus and Anti-Iesus.

But God by Reformation hath mended that confusion: The light of the Gospel hath at once revealed his heresie in Doctrine, and tyrannie in Vsurpation. Revel 17.Rev 17This is a tryall of Princes; for they are free and happie Princes who hauehave shaken off his Yoak; and reformed themselues, and their Kingdomes to the Gospel of Christ: But thrise miserable are they who lye still drunke in her fornications.

God in merciemercy hath put your M^a. in the first ranke: The Titles of Defender of the Church from King William of Scotland, aaInnocen 3and of Defender of the Faith from Henrie 8. bbLeo. 10. Bull. 12.of England; are both Ensignes of your profession, and remembrancers of your royall Duetie; to defend the true Church, and the true Faith, your M^a. devotion testifies the peaceable part of the discharge: And doth promise the other part by the Sword, when GOD shall honour Kings to execute his will on the Whore. And in GODS time, they who now adhere to her, shall count it their happinesse to follow your M^a. Example.

Behold now your M^a. Happinesse in their miserie: Their common end (to destroy Protestants) hathCard. Lothar. Practic. Cancell. Hisp. Aphor. Card. 16 22. made them Confederats▪: But God hath divided them by their privat ends like Sechem and Abimelech: And juggling Prote…s, of a bloodie Dragon, it turned a craftie Serpent, and seeketh his saftie, by wynding betwixt the Iealousies of these great Princes. Hee is carried violentlie as hope and feare, canvasse him:I…d. 9. 20. Rut fire will breake out from Abimelech and devoure Sechem And these Princes shall dwell in brotherlie louelove, when they receiue the Gospel of peace.

This private offering is a fruit and testimonie of a commoun joy: the Flowre of the States of this land (present in this Citie, at the glad newes of the Princes birth) were overjoyed: And this citie expressed their loyaltie in all significations, so that no place of these three Kingdomes could exceede.Virum negotiosis…imum in Repub. Epist. 54.

It was S. Austines discretion to Macedonius a Iudge, taken vp with publick affaires, not to deteine him with long Epistles: What shall wee doe to so great a KING?

Almightie GOD, who hath set your Ma. on these three Thrones, multiplee royall gifts on your sacred person, Psal. 21. 6Ps 21:6and make You a King of many Royall blessings: That great Britaine vnderunder you, and your clement Name, may more and more be a terrour to Anti-christ, a comfort to the Saints, and a Land wherein GOD delighteth to dwell.

AMEN.

Your M^a. most humble Subject, and Servant, M. WILLIAM STUTHER.

The Table of the Thanksgiving.

THE Preface of the Princes Birth. Pag. 1

1. The first part. King David a Supplicant. 4.

2. The second part. Of a Monarchie. 6.

The Author of it 7.

2. The Necessitie. 8.

The Excellencie. 11.

The Character of K. 12.

Their Limitation. 13.

Monarchie the best Government. 15.

Affectation of Divinitie is a frensie. 16

The PoPe taken with that frenesie. 17.

Errours about Magistracie. 19. 20.

Wee should pray for Kings. 21.

And obey them in the Lord. 21.

Three wayes to come to a Kingdome ▪

1. Conquest. 24.

2. Election. 26.

3. Succession is better than both. 28.

Womens Governement lawfull. 29

Queene Elizabeths instance determineth the question 30.

King IAMES instance. 30.

A new borne Prince a great blessing. 31.

3. The third part of the Royall Gift.

1. The habite of Iustice. 33.

Religion falleth vnderunder the care of Kings. 37.

Popes debarred them from it. 38.

Hee gulled them by Cannonizing. 39.

Some Princes abused Religion.

Reformation a blessing to Princes and People. 40.

Popes tye God to themselues, and loose themselues from God. 43.

2. The worke of the royall Gift is Government. 44.

1. The rule of it good Lawes. 45.

Difficultie of iudgement, in cause, parties, witnesse. 46.

The necessitie and danger of Forture. 50.

Princes Difficulties and Dangers. 52.

Flatterers of Princes are Pests. 54.

It is faintnesse to lay downe their Crownes. 56.

Pietie and Prudence the Reme…de of their Difficulties. 59.

2. People the Subject of Government. 62.

Man is most obliged and most disobedient. 64.

Gods Church most easily governed. 66.

King… governing of themselues▪ 67.

Of their Courts. 69.

3. The fruite of good Government. Peace. 73.

Of the fruits of Peace. 74.

Of Warres. 78.

The Puritie, and peace of true Religion, their greatest task. 81

It is the greatest blessing of Mankinde. 82.

No Mixture with a true Religion. 84.

Reconciliation with a false religion is impossible. 85.

Confusions of Holland. 86.

Domage of schis…es. 89.

Three sorts of Kings.

1. Of Gods King. 90.

2. Machiavells Tyrant. 91.

3. Of the Popes Vassall. 97.

The pourtrate of … perfect King.▪ 98.

Tyrants both affright, and are affrighted. 102.

Peoples hearts a Kings greatest conquest. 102.

Their louelove his best Guard. 103.

An happie land. 105.

Scotlands happinesse. 106.

Great Brittaines Happinesse. 107.

Speach to the Nobilitie. 108.

To the colledge of Iustice. 108.

To Edenburgh. 108.

Aprayer for the King. 109.

For the Queene. 109.

For the Prince 110.

For the Subiects. 110.

True Thanksgiving is true o…dience. 111.

ERRATA.

p. 1A LOOKING GLASSE for Princes and people: Deliuered first in a Sermon of thanksgiuing for the Birth of our hopefull PRINCE CHARLES, &c. In the great Church of EDINBVRGH, &c.