The Joy of the English Church for the Coronation of Pious Prince James, Meditations on psalm · Part · Meditation 10
The 10. meditation.
That is compact together in it selfe] The word in the originall is chabar, which signifieth to ioyne together. The Septuagint translate, foreign, which doth participate or communicate together. Before the citie was deuided, part thereof beeing possessed of the Iebusites, which were of a contrarie religion. This then was a singular benefit, that the citie which was before disioyned in religion, and ciuill dissention, is now reduced to vnitie and conioyned in one. A happie thing therefore it is, when a nation, citie, or people doe consent and agree together and liue as brethren.
1. Behold (saith the Prophet Dauid) how comely and good a thing it is, brethren, to dwell togither, Psal. 134. 1. So the Prophet saith, The hatred of Ephraim shal depart, &c. Ephraim shall not enuie Iudah, nor Iudah vexe Ephraim, Isa. 11. 23. that is, they which before liued at variance, shall be reconciled.
2. Thus Abraham appeased the stri…e that was betweene his seruants and Lots, Gen. 13. Isaak made an atonement with Abimelech, whose seruants before had contended with Isaaks seruants for certain wells of water. Gen. 26. Moses would hauehave pacified the two Ebrewes that stroue together. Exod. 2. 13.
3. For discord in a citie, or among neighbours is like a raging fire: as Iotham prophecied, that a fire should come from Abimelech, and consume Sechem, and a fire likewise from Sechem to consume Abimelech, The danger of discord.Iud. 9. 20. Which fire was that ciuill dissention, wherby they were one destroied of another. And as Abimelech when he had destroied the citie, did sowe it with salt, to make it for euer vnfruitfull, ibid. v. 45. so is dissension among neighbours and citizens, like to the sowing of salt. And contrariwise, vnitie and concord is a comely and pleasant thing, like to the sweete ointment of Aaron, that gaue a pleasant perfume round about: and like as they could not roll away the stone vponupon the wells mouth to water the sheepe, till all the shepheards came together, and ioyned their strength to doe it, Gen. 29. 8. so by concord and vnitie, great matters are compassed which by diuision are hindred.
4. Concord and peace is an euident signe of Gods presence, who is the author of peace, and not of confusion, 1. Cor. 14. 33. And the Prophet Dauid hauing set forth the singular benefit of concord among brethren, comparing it to the dewe that falleth vponupon the hills: he thus concludeth, there the Lord appointed the life and blessing for euer, Psal. 134. 3. shewing that all blessings are expected, where brotherly louelove is kept and nourished.
5. First then, herein appeareth a wonderfull worke of God at this present among vsus in this realme of England: who hath made this nation as a cittie well compact in it selfe, that all, as one man, hauehave consented togither to bring the Lords annointed to Ierusalem: as all the tribes of Israel came vntounto Dauid and said, we are thy bones and thy flesh: & with one consent annointed him king.The 9. benefit the generall consent and desire of all in receiuing his Maiestie. 2. Sam. 8. 1. And as Israel and Iuda did contend, which should be most forward in restoring Dauid, 2. Sam. 19. 43. So men of all sorts hauehave striued, who might shewe most ioy, and greatest dutie to our Soueraigne. What troubles hauehave men feared at the next change, who can be ignorant? many wishing they might not liue to see those daies, some looking as it were a squint two waies, to be readie for all accidents; some as it hath beene credibly reported, disposing their lands to feoffes, to the vse of their heires, fearing the troubles of these daies. But God hath put away all feare, and turned all to good, and wrought mens hearts as waxe, to a loyall agreement, that neuer any prince entred more quietly in this land, then our nowe Soueraigne Lord, whose happie yeares and godly raigne, God in his merciemercy long continue: This is the Lords doing, as the Prophet saith, and it is marueilous in our eies, Psal. 128. 23.
Secondly, let vsus acknowledge another great benefit, that the Lord hath now bestowed vponupon this famous Island of Brittannie: neuer could it be said, as at this time, that we are now indeed this whole Island compact togither into one kingdome: sometime England onelyonly was deuided into an heptarchie,Fox. p. 101. p. 135. that is, into seauen kingdomes, for the space of 300. yeares togither and more, from ann. 456. to the raigne of king Egbright. ann. 802. Then England beeing reduced to one Monarchie, yet the countrie of Wales remained a seuerall kingdome vntill Edward the 1. ann. 1279. who subdued Lewline king of Wales,Fox. p. 3…5. and made his eldest sonne Edward prince of that countrie. But all this while England and Scotland remained two distinct kingdomes, which a long time, one offended another with most cruell and fierce warres: now are they by Gods prouidence conioyned and made one kingdome. This according of these two kingdomes was diuers times attempted before: the which better to effect, diuers kings of England gaue their daughters in marriage to the kings of Scots, as King Iohn his daughter Elianor; Edward the 2. Ioane his daughter;Stowe. Henrie the 7. Margaret his eldest daughter, of whome is lawefully descended our dread Soueraigne king Iames the true and lawfull possessor of both kingdomes: after this king Henrie intended a marriage betweene his sonne prince Edward,Lanquet. The 10. benefit, the wonderfull conioyning of both kingdomes. and Marie queene of Scots. But none of these deuises tooke place, that this worke might not seeme by mans counsell to be compassed, but by gods prouidence onelyonly to be effected: So that we may now say of this Isle, as Dauid here of Ierusalē, it is a kingdome compacted togither in it selfe.
Thirdly, let vsus all learne nowe to louelove as brethren, that neighbours should liue peaceably and louingly togither; not one to be readie to offend and grieue another: but as we see in great citties, the houses to be one ioyned to another, and to be compacted togither, so that there might be as neere a coniunction in mens hearts and affections. While men are in wrath and at variance, their praiers are hindred, their mind disquieted, Gods worship neglected, some are wronged, others prouoked. Howe should the child looke vponupon his father, whē he hateth his brother? how should we thinke to be forgiuen of God, when we seeke reuenge one against another? how can any man in wrath or enuie say the Lords praier? as Hierome saith, animo discrepante cum verbis, oratione dissidente cum, factis, Our minde dissenting from our words, and our words varying from our deeds.