The Joy of the English Church for the Coronation of Pious Prince James, Meditations on psalm · Part · Meditation 11
The 11. meditation.
Whereunto the tribes, euen the tribes of the Lord goe vp.] King Dauids especiall care was to reduce the people of God to one vniforme worship, that eueryevery man should not be permitted to deuise a religion to himselfe, but that all should goe vp to Hierusalem to worship God there. So this care doeth principally belong vntounto Princes, to see all false worshippes abolished, and the true seruice of God established.
1. This then is rendred as a reason, how it came to passe, that Micah set vp Seraphim in his house, and consecrated a new kind of priesthood: There was in those daies no king in Israel, but eueryevery man did that which was good in his owne ei…s, Iudg. 17. 6. A vertuous king then is a most excellent meanes, to drawe the people distracted in opinions and sectes, to one true worship of God: they that liue in one kingdome, should hauehave one Christendome, be all of one faith and religion: as they obey one king in earth, so they should adore one God in heauen: and as they are subiect to one lawe for ciuill administration, so they should walke after one rule, concerning their Christian profession: as Moses saith. One law shall be to him that is borne in the land, and to the stranger that dwelleth among you. Exod. 12. 49.
2. As Dauid expelled the Iebusites, which hindred the peace of Ierusalem, hauing there inhabited aboue 300. yeares, since the first conquest of Canaan, Iud. 1. 21. and tooke away their blinde and lame idols, 2. Sam. 5. 8. So Caleb had long before driuen the Anakims cruell and prophane gyants out of Hebron, Iosua. 14. 12 Ezra also caused the strange women to be put away, which were married to diuers of Israel, and corrupted both their faith & language, Ezra. 10. 18. Nehem. 13. 24. Nehemiah likewise banished the irreligious merchants of Tyrus, that would hauehave vttered their wares vponupon the Lords day, Nehem. 13. 21.
3. This may seeme to be the meaning of that lawe, whereby the Israelites were forbidden to sow their vineyard with diuerse seedes, or to plowe with an oxe and an asse togither, Deut. 22. 9, 10. So the mixture of diuers religions, and the cohabiting of diuers worshippers cannot be good. As Zerubbabel and Ioshua would not suffer the enemies of the people of God to build the temple with them, who thereunto offered their sacrifice deceitfully: it is not for you, but for vsus (say they) to build an house to the Lord. Ezra, 4. 3. So it is not fit, that a contrarie religion should be admitted.
4. The Lord saith by his prophet, my glory will I not giuegive to another, Isay, 42. 8. The Lord will not deuide stakes, he will be God alone, as Eliah saith, If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal be he, goe after him, 1. King. 18. 21. But where diuers different professions are admitted, God must be dishonoured, who can not by contrary sects be truely serued.
5. First then we may acknowledge an other great merciemercy toward our nation,The 11. benefit, sinceritie in religion. that whereas in other countries, diuers professions of religion are suffered; some runne to Dan, some to Bethel, some to Shiloh, some one way, some another. All the tribes of Israel with vsus are called vp to Hierusalem; the holy profession of the gospell of Christ hath these many yeares flourished in these two famous kingdomes of England and Scotland, and by Gods merciemercy is like to flourish still: that we may say with the Prophet, God is knowne in Iudah, his name is great in Israel, Psal. 76. 1. No other God is worshipped in the Church of England but the Lord; no other religion acknowledged but the gospel of Iesus Christ: and our Prince and his people doe say with one ioint voice vntounto God, Thou art my Lord, &c, the sorrowes of them that offer to another God shall be multiplied, their offerings of blood will I not offer, neither make mention of their names within my lippes, Psal. 16. 54.
Secondly, if all the tribes of the Lord goe vp to Hierusalem to the Tabernacle, then certes, they which refuse to goe vp, are not the tribes of the Lord:An admonitio… to recusants. here then is an admonition to all Recusants popish & others, that they would now at the length lay aside their froward spirits, and humble themselues to come vp to Ierusalem with the rest of Gods people. They are not of the tribes of the Lord, that wil not goe vp to the place of his worship. Let not the Romist deceiue himselfe, and expect a toleration of his superstitious (I would it were not also an idolatrous) profession. Certainely, where Gods arke is, Dagon cannot stande:1. Sam. 4▪ 4. but shall also loose in the ende both his head and hands: their Dagon of Rome was cast downe to to the ground, when first the papall authoritie and cells of superstition were destroied in England: he lost his head and his hands; when afterward papall religion was expelled: if yet any stumpe of his bodie remaine, we doubt not but by Gods grace it shall sooner be cast out, then his former wounds be recouered. Let them not thinke that Hezekiah will suffer the high places and images to stand, 2. king. 18. 4. or Iosias the Chemarims to continue, 2. king. 23. 4. Wherefore stand not out wilfully as the Ephramites, that refused to ioyne with Iephtah against Ammon, Iud. 12. 4. neither despise with the tribe of Manasses the message of Hezekiah, that called them vp to the Passeouer, 2. Chron. 30. 10.
Now as for them, which stand apart, and separate themselues from vsus, swelling with an opinion of their owne greater holines,Aduise giuen to schismatikes. if they will be counted among the tribes of the Lord, let them also come vp to Ierusalem: if any thing hath grieued them in our Church, let them not feare if their offering be iust, but God will put it into the heart of Hezekiah in good time to remooue euen Moses brasen serpent, if any such abuse were. 2. king. 8. 4. I wish therefore and exhort them to assemble themselues with the hoast of Israel, and to gather Manna with the rest of Gods people, least if they goe out to gather it alone, as some of the Israelites did vponupon the seauenth day, they loose their labour, and finde none, Exod. 16. 26. And as much hauehave these brethren of the separation found, since they first went out from vsus. I say vntounto them with Ambrose vponupon these wordes of the Lord to Moses, The place where thou standest is holy ground, Epist. 82.Ecclesia locus sanctus est, sta ergo in Ecclesia, sta vbi tibi apparui, ibi ego tecum sum, &c. The Church is the holy place, stand therefore in the Church, stand where I appeared vntounto thee, for there I am with thee. If euer God appeared then vntounto them, when they heard the word, and made their praiers in our Church assemblies, why doe they forsake that place, where God hath manifested himselfe?