A Looking Glass for Princes and Peoples Delivered, Book 1 · Part 3 · Part 6 – Part 7
The Pourtrat of a perfect King.
WEe may also raise of this Text a description of a good King and an happie Kingdome. A good King A perfect King.God descriues in David, I hauehave found mee a man according to mine heart &c. And that was in respect of his Election to the Kingdome, which was in merciemercy, and had a preceeding Election of Grace: In his Gouernment, becauseActor. 13. hee applyed himselfe to Gods heart in following his will: And in his Approbation, because God who chused him in merciemercy, and guided him in his government, did accept his obedience, and set him vp as a compleete patterne of good Kings, whose greatest commendation is to walke in the wayes of David my seruant.
This is Gods description of good Kings; but howFew good Kings. few such hauehave beene in the world? There were none good before Christ but in the line of David: For after the division of the Tribes vnderunder Rehoboam, all the Kings of Israel were wicked idolaters; and of Iudah onlie two were exceeding good, Ezekiah, and Iosiah; sixe were praised in part, and reprooved in part, as Asa, Iosaphat, Ioaz, Amasah, Vzzah, and Iotham: And all the rest were idolaters as the Kings of Israel. The praise of good Kings is, that they know the Truth, and serued God accordinglie: They were zealous for his glorie, destroying idolatrie, and holdingIn Israel Reges alios magis alios minus omnes tamen reprobos legimus. Aug. Civit. 18. lib. 23. it out of their Kingdomes; they maintained the worship of God according to his Truth, and gaue neither toleration nor libertie of false Religions to their Subiects; but astricted them by Lawes to worship him aright, & went before them in a royall example. They sought not themselues, but Gods glorie; and he recompenced them againe by his blessing on their persons and government, and making their Names to flowrish in benediction. But the idolatrous Kings were contrare; they forsooke the true God themselues, and permitted a miscellanie Religion to their people: Therefore his curse was on them, and their government: Hee wrote their Names in the dust, and made them vyle to the posteritie, as may be seene in Histories.
Heere is a looking Glasse for Christian Princes: Popish Kings though they bee in the Church, yet they are like the Kings of Israel in idolatrie, as Ieroboam with the CaluesHis Paterne. at Bethel: But Kings in reformed Churches are like the Kings of Iudah, who hauehave God among them in the Arke of his testimonie, and true Religion; and it is their safetie, to follow David, Ezekiah and Iosiah in the maintenance and practise of true Religion. This is a better exemplar than the Cardinals: When for a fashion he hath set downe the example of some good Iewish and ChristianBellar de off …rin… lib, 2 3▪ Princes, hee subioynes the Legend of some canonized Kings, who got that honour when Ignorance and Idolatrie prevailed in the Church, That looking to that Glasse of the Popes forging, hee may steale the hearts of Princes from God to superstition. I would aske, if Ioseph, Moses David, &c. before Christ, and Theodosius, Tiberius the younger &c. were not as holy as Vences…aus, Leopoldus, and other canonized Kings. If they were, wherefore are these canonized and not the other?
A good King setteth God before him as his end; and true His end.happinesse in his fauour; hee counteth his earthlie Kingdome neither his e…d, nor a way to the right end, but seeketh the Kingdome of Heauen aboue the other, and that by the way of godlinesse and righteousnesse: It is a1. In godlinesse. well grounded Throne that standeth on these two pillers: Godlinesse maketh men eternall; it is his Image that never dyeth, and maketh their persons and workes acceptable to him; without it as no man can see him, so with it vndoubtedlie they shall enjoy him for euer. No Iewell nor Dyamount shineth brighter in the Crownes of Kings than true godlinesse.
Righteousnesse is another Pillar, the proper worke of the Throne, and Gods worke in Kings who sit in it; for 2. His righteousnesse. Prov. 21. 1.the heart of the King is in the Lords hand, and hee sweyeth it whither hee will: It is a just thing with GOD to maintaine the Throne his owne ordinance, when righteousnesse his will and work doe both liue in it, and issue from it: And what are good Kings on Thrones, but God in them iudging the World? God standeth in the Congregation Psal. 8…. 1.of the mightie, and hee iudgeth among Gods: Hee delighteth to rest where hee reigneth and ruleth with delight.
A righteous King sitting on his Throne is a more pleasantHis Throne. sight than Solomons, & that more for his invisible Attendants than for his visible. Before him standeth Affabilitie, 1 Kin 10. 18 19 Affabilitie.as a Porter, to giuegive accesse to the plaints of the afflicted: Injuries choppe the hearts of the oppressed, and they runne to Princes for helpe: And they are set vp in their greatnesse, not to neglect the oppressed, but to heare their complaints: It was a fault in the Kings of Persia not to admitte any to their presence, but such asEster. 1. 2. were called vponupon; it made oppressours bolde, and the oppression of the poore incurable: But it was commended in another King, who gaue justice to an oppressedPhilip of Macedon. woman, who told him freelie, That if hee had not leasure to iudge, he should not reigne: And Traian was honoured with a Statue, because beeing on horse, and going to battell, hee stayed till hee did Iustice to an oppressed Widow. When affabilitie as a Porter hath made way to the oppressed, then louelove of the people in the Kings heart, as a Master LoueLove of his people.of requeasts taketh the complaint in hand, and calling Wisedome and Prudence to counsell, they consult to doe right according to the cause.His courage.
Before his Throne stand Courage & Clemencie: Courage to proceede according to Iustice; and Clemencie to temperClemencie. some times the strictnesse of Iustice: Clemencie remoueth Severitie, least it turne to Crueltie, and Courage remoueth too great Indulgence, least it breed in People a libertie to sinne, and contempt of Princes: Clemencie canSicuti est aliquando misericordia pun… ens ita est crudelitas parcens. Aug. Epist. 54. pardon small faultes; but great sinnes and effronts of Authoritie would bee punished; else it is not Clemencie, but Crueltie. On either side of the Throne two Sergents stand, Power and Diligence: Power, to execute the sentence pronounced, which careth as little the difficulties that may follow execution, as Iustice did the respect of persons: And Diligence doth all with such convenient speed, as the nature of the matter, and the honour of the Prince requireth: At the backe of this Throne leaneth Peace and Prosperitie, Peace among the whole Bodie while everie one getteth his right, and is secured in it: And Prosperitie, as Gods blessing following that his own worke, of a wife and righteous government.
As a good King seeketh Gods favour aboue all, so nixtHee seeketh the louelove of his Subjects. Exod. 32. 32. therevnto the louelove of his people: The heart is the Man, and among all affections louelove caries the heart and captiues man: Hatred and Feare are troubling passions, and separate the heart from their object; but louelove applies it selfe ioy fullie, and draweth the whole Man to that it loueth: The best conquest of their louelove is by goodnesse Loues proper obiect; and there is no heart so hard as to hold it selfe from these in whom true goodnesse shineth: Wee may compell men to feare, but cannot moue them to louelove vsus, but by sweete motiues; the bond that commeth by compulsion is vnpleasant to the parties; it is soone broken, and when it leaveth off, is turned in hatred, but the band of louelove is both pleasant and firme.
Fatherlie louelove in a King to his people, and louelove in them to Mutual louelove betwixt them.him againe is a sweete relation, and maketh their mutuall dueties both easie and pleasant: Moses preferred the people to himselfe: Spare them, O Lord, but raze my name out of the Booke of life: And David offered himselfe to bee2 Sam. 24. punished for the people, I hauehave sinned but these sheepe what hauehave they done? Next to the louelove they send vp to GOD, this descending louelove to their people, maketh them carefull of their peoples good. When hee loueth his people he hath conqueshed their heart absolutelie; for no affection either deserveth or findeth more recompence than louelove: Thereby hee is Master of their bodies and goods, and Constantius iustlie boasted, that hee had more money in his Treasures than Diocletian, because hee had his peoples favour.
Princes are oft-times vniustlie hated, yet not loved exceptTyrants tormented with feare. they louelove their Subiects; but if they hate them, and be terrible, they are repayed in the same kind: VVhosoever affrighteth many, is affrighted of many againe; for so God by nature hath appointed, that what is great by feare of others, is full of feare it selfe: The Lyon that affrighteth all Beasts, is affrighted at the crowing of a Cocke, and cruell Beasts are amazed with cryes and sounds in the Forrest▪ so what ever terrifieth others, doeth tremble it selfe. A tyrants government r…steth not, and the feare hee worketh on others, returneth on himselfe, and maketh him a Center both of their hatred and feares; who are affrayed of him: Hee is in a continuall and dangerous, warre, and neither sure before, nor behind, nor on either fide; neither hath hee peace within, because hee is ever affrayed.Loving Princes dwell in peoples hearts.
But whē Princes exerce their power in louelove, are easie for accesse, readie to heare the plaints of the poore, they are loued of all, defended, and honoured as Gods Vice-gerents: All men will desire a long life to them, & bestow their owne lives for their preservatiō. So he dwelleth in great safty, who dwelleth in the hearts of his Subiects: As many loving hatrs, so many open eares to heare, eyes to see, and hands to avoyde his griefe, and procure his good: The Bees defend their King, and count it their glorie to die for him; so are loving and beloved Subiects to a loving and beloved King. Hee is as a Center in his Kingdome, and all giftes and callings as a circle about him; hee sendeth out a royall influence to everie part of that large Circle which is augmented by his louelove: And that influence and louelove doethRegem suum Apes summa protectione defendūt &c Ambros hex. l b. 5. cap. 21. civilic perfect the gifts of his Subiects: This is recompensed with the louelove and service of millions of the people, who the more cheerefully bestow themselues & their gifts for him, because of his louelove. It is pleasant to see this mutuall respect betwixt such an Head and such a Bodie; but more ioyfull for themselues, to find it betwixt them.Peoples loyalde the guard of Prince….
His louelove and royall vertues procure both the good-will of his people and Authoritie: The first is their strongest Affection, the other a great Opinion of their Kings excellencie, composed of reverence and feare of his offence: All these preserue both the Persons and Maiestie of Kings; a…d barre contempt, which vndermines the authoritie of Maiestie and Empyres: Conspiracies are the most fearefull convulsions of a Kingdome, and there is no better humane guard against them than the louelove of people; for Traitors seeke this as a speciall ground, if their treason can bee acceptable to Subiects: But where Princes are loued of their people, none dare conspire against them; because they will finde as many severe Avengers, as loving Subiects.
But wee may take more briefelie the description of a good King from S. Austine, after his long discourse of providence over Kingdomes. VVee doe not count Christian Civit. lib. 5. cap. 24.Emperours happie (saith hee) because they did reigne long, or left their Sons heires of their Empyre—For such common blessings some worshippers of idoles hauehave received, who pertaine not to the Kingdome of God, to which these Christians appertaine: And this was done of Gods great merciemercy, least the faithfull should count th…se worldlie dignities the chiefe good. But wee call them happie, if they governe iustlie, if they bee not puffed vp, with flattering tongues and base attendents, but remember that they are men, if they make that power a servant to God, to enlarge his worshippe: If in their owne persons, they feare, louelove, and worship God, and louelove that Kingdome of Heaven most wherein they will hauehave no Competitours. If they revenge slowlie, and pardon hastily—If Leacherie and other lusts bee so much the more restrained in them as they hauehave the greater libertie: if they had rather rule their owne lust than Nations: And if they doe these things not for lo…e of vaine glory, but the louelove of eternall happinesse. If for their sins they offer to the true God a sacrifice of humility, pietie, and prayer. Such Christian Kings wee say are must happie.
An happie Land.
WEe may also raise heereof the description of anThe hapines of a …and. happie Land; that happinesse is not in the situation lying convenientlie to the Sunne, or to hauehave rich Mines of gold and silver with all sort of rare fruites & commodities, &c. The best soyles for the most part are inhabite by worse people: Turkes and Mahumetanes dwell in that Land which God gaue as a blessing to Israel; and Pagans hauehave the choise parts of the world; to tell vsus that the happinesse of people is not in the goodnesse of a soyle, and that the godlie hauehave not their byding Citie on Earth: But that isHeb. 13. Psal. 80 Malach. 1 the happinesse of a Kingdome where the Sunne of righteousnesse shineth, and the Mynes and Treasures of the grace of Christ are discovered, where Christ the desire of Nations, and the glorie of Israel doth gather and rule his Church, where hee setteth vp his Throne in the heartes of their Rulers, and maketh them to authorize by Law, and professe and practise in their owne person the true Religion: VVhere the people ladened with these mercies, know their time Luke 19.and the things that concerne their Peace. The glorie of Canaan was not for that it flowed with milk and honey, but for the Arke of God, that abode in it, and the glorie of Ierusalem was not in statelie buildings, but because GodPsal. 76. 1 Psal. 132 was knowne in it, and said, heere will I dwell.
This is the estate of everie Kingdome where Christ ruleth by his Gospel. Behold, a King shall rule in righteousnes and Princes shall rule in Iudgement: And what shall be the fruite? The worke of righteousnesse shall be peace, and the effect Esay. 32. 1. 17 Deut. 11. 12of righteousnesse quietnesse and assurednesse for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places: The eyes of the Lord is on such a Land from the beginning of the yeare to the end. Happie Psal. 144 15is that people that is in such a case, yea, happie is that people whose God is the Lord.