A Peace Offering to God, Title page – Dedication
A PEACE-OFFRING TO GOD For the Blessings we enioy vnderunder his Maiesties reigne, with a Thanksgiuing for the Princes safe returne on Sunday the 5. of October. 1623.
In a Sermon preached at Manitree in Essex, on Thursday the 9. of October, next after his Highnesse happy arriuall.
By SAMVEL WARD OF Ipswich.
LONDON, Printed by A. Math. for Iohn Marriott, and Iohn Grismand, and are to be sold at their Shops in St. Dunstons Churchyard, and in Pauls Alley at the Signe of the Gunne. 1624.
TO THE KINGS MOST SACRED MAIESTIE.
THe Altar of Incense was compassed aboutwith a Crowne of pure Gold.Leuit. 3. Gratitude is a rich, and royall Vertue best beseeming the best Princes, which hauehave the best meanes to expresse, and the most cause to excite them thereunto. The meanest Subiect following the Mill, may bee as thankefull as the greatest Monarch sitting vponupon the Throne. But between the effects of their thankes, there is as broad a difference, as betweene the Acts of a Gyant, and a Creeple, whose fortitude may yet bee equall. A priuate man praiseth God vponupon a tenne-stringed, a King vponupon a ten-thousand-stringed Instrument, vponupon the lowd-sounding Organs, hauing so many millions of Pipes, as there bee men to whom their Authoritie, or Example reacheth. The fruites of Constantine, Theodosius, and such good Emperors gratitudes, hauehave been Religion planted and promoted, Churches erected, Idolatrie suppressed, wholesome Lawes enacted, and executed, which makes Diuines doubt whether such Kings were well aduised, aElesban Rex Aethiopum. Niceph. lib. 17. Fernandus Rex Castiliae, Rodoricut de rebus Hispanicis, lib. 4. Fox To, 1. Martyrolog.though much applauded in Storie, who vponupon victories obtained, not layed downe onelyonly, but wholly layd off their Crownes, and resigned their Kingdomes to God, not considering they might better hauehave paid their thankes to him in kind, as Kings; then in priuate deuotions as Monkes. Dauid was therefore a man after Gods heart, not because a King, but because a thankefull King: the sweet Singer of Israel, not for his Poetry or Musicke, but for his gratefull Hymnes composed and sung to Gods praise vponupon eueryevery fresh occasion; and hee calles vponupon Princes and Rulers three times in one verse, because they hauehave three times the cause that Subiects hauehave, who hauehave but a single share in those blessings, which ioyntly meet in the head of Soueraigntie. Hee often puts the thorne to his Breast, as if he found some obliuion there, or vnwillingnesse: bAug. in Psal. 145. quasi tacentes inuenerit Angelos hortatur qui tamen nun-quam tacuerunt.yea, he often calls vponupon the Angell, eyther implying the worth of the worke, or else that the best alacritie may admit excitation.cAentas Syluius, lib. 4. de dictis Alphonsi. Alphonsus, that renowned King, in a speech to the Popes Embassadour, professeth he did not so much wonder at his Courtiers ingratitude to him, who had raysed sundry of them from meane to great Estates, as at his owne to God. How acceptable an offering shall this bee to God, if it may kindle the least sparke, or rather blow those coales already flaming in your royall Breast, or testifie our gratefulnesse to him for his infinite, old and new fauours to your Maiesties Person, and thereby in your Kingdomes. For all defects in it, the Title pleades Pardon, and Acceptance: Euen GOD himselfe allowed a Female in Peace-Offerings, not admitted in other kindes. Gratitude hath set a price vponupon meane Presents. The forme of a Sermon will not disparage the subiect matter. The best Monuments of Constantines Gouernment, is a gratefull Sermon, recorded at large by Eusebius in his tenth, whose blessed, and much honoured dayes, God make yours equall and exceed in length and happinesse. So humbly and heartily prayes
Your Maiesties most loyall and thankfull Subiect. SAM. WARD.