Medicines for the Plague, Collection of sermons · Sermon 20
The twentieth Sermon vponupon the ſixt verſe.
I know, that the Lord will helpe his annointed, and will heare him from, &c.
Why the number is changed in theſe words of their prayer.THis being the voyce of a multitude, euen of the whole Church, is ſet downe after this meanes, not (we) know, but (I) know, in the ſingular number, or perſon of one; not onelyonly for this cauſe that we hauehave alreadie heard of, namely, to teach them all that they ſhould labour to pray in this faith, That God would heare them all, and eueryevery one of them: but alſo to ſhew, that as Dauid the authour of this Pſalme profeſſeth that he had this aſſurance in himſelfe, ſo he commending it vntounto them to vſe, doubted not, but that all of them praying together, ſome of them at the leaſt ſhould hauehave it alſo, and ſo might ſay in their owne perſons, I know that God will helpe his anointed: and ſo ſhould pray in that faith, whereby he might verely beleeue, that God would heare him, and ſo he might obtaine helpe and aſſurance of it for all the reſt: and by that aſſurance that God ſhould giuegive him, he might comfort the reſt. In ſo much that though eueryevery man and woman then preſent, through the weakeneſſe of their faith could not come vntounto this aſſurance, (which yet they ſhould labour after, as hath beene ſaid before? yet ſome one or other among thē, more or fewer, might hauehave it in great meaſure: and ſo the Lord might aſſure them of it for the reſt, that God would heare them. And ſo this ſhould be the benefit of the common prayer of the Church, when many were met together, and that to eueryevery one that ioyned with them, That though all of them could not come to that meaſure of aſſurance in their prayers that they deſired, that the Lord would heare them;When many pray together, one may hauehave aſſurance for all the reſt, that God doth heare them. yet ſome one or other ſhould hauehave it for them, and ſo when it was a common benefit that they prayed for, they ſhould not onelyonly obtaine it together, (for the Lord would heare them) but ſome ſhould more ſpecially know it beforehand, to their owne comfort, and the comfort of others. And this no doubt is a ſingular great comfort in any trouble, that when many are together and in great heauineſſe, by reaſon of ſome calamitie or feare that is vponupon them: and none among them is able to comfort themſelues, much leſſe are they able to comfort others, that are feeble minded among them, though they deſire to doe it; and though they ſeeke to God for comfort, and pray for it moſt earneſtly, yet they cannot find it in themſelues: at the laſt God ſhall ſo ſtirre vp the ſpirit of ſome one or other among them, and ſhall ſo aſſure him, that God will be mercifull vntounto them, that he ſhall conſtantly and openly profeſſe it vntounto them to their comfort alſo; comfort I ſay, though not in themſelues, yet from him. For though he, euen but one, hath it properly in himſelfe, yet he hath it not for himſelfe alone, but for others that are with him, and in the ſame danger and feare, who need to be comforted: and they ſhall fare the better by it. For (as the Apoſtle ſaith of himſelfe,2. Cor. 1.3. Bleſſed be God, euen the father of our Lord Ieſus Christ, the father of merciemercy, and the God of all comfort, which comforteth vsus in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any affliction by that comfort wherewith we our ſelues are comforted of God) he ſaith that that comfort which God gaue him in his affliction, was not for himſelfe alone, but for the benefit of others: ſo others alſo, that which this way God beſtoweth vponupon them, they hauehave it,And ſo the feeble minded among them hauehave beene comforted. not for themſelues, but for others. And indeed all experience doth ſhew the truth of this, that ſome that hauehave beene very faint hearted in themſelues, yet being in ſome common trouble with others, hauehave bene greatly comforted and ſtayed by them from thoſe extremities that they might hauehave fallen into, in that meaſure that the Lord hath comforted ſome for all the reſt: who if they had not beene preſent with them, the other could not hauehave attained vntounto that comfort in any meaſure, which they did. And this comfort is to be found of them, that hauehave it in themſelues for others, by prayer and by walking in a good courſe, that ſo the Lord may not forſake them in the midſt of their trouble.
In this reſpect it is a great benefit to reſort to the common praiers of the Church.And in this reſpect we ſee, that it is a great benefit, and that that ſhall make much for our comfort, to reſort to the common prayers of the Church, where wee ſhall hauehave many good men and women pray with vsus for the common benefits which concerne vsus and them: that ſo if not to our ſelues, yet to ſome of them, God may giuegive aſſurance, that he will heare vsus: and ſo we may be comforted by our mutuall faith, ours and theirs,Rom. 1.12. as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh. And what a great merciemercy of God it is alſo priuatly in any need of ours, to be directed to ſend for righteous and faithfull men and women to pray for vsus, according to the direction of S. Iames, who faith,Jam 5.14. Is any ſicke among you, let him call for the Elders of the Church, And in our need to hauehave good mē pray with vsus.and let them pray for him; and the prayer of faith ſhall ſaue the ſicke, and the Lord ſhall raiſe him vp, and if hee hauehave committed ſinnes, they ſhall be forgiuen him: and afterwards addeth, That the prayer of a righteous man auaileth much, if it be feruent. VVhere he ſheweth, what good we may receiue by the faith and feruent prayers of others; namely, that ſo it may come to paſſe, that if not our ſelues, yet others praying for vsus, God might giuegive them ſome aſſurance for vsus, that he would heare vsus and helpe vsus both in ſoule and bodie; in pardoning our ſinnes vponupon our true repentance, and raiſing vsus from ſickneſſe, which for our ſinnes God had laid vponupon vsus: as here the Prophet doth ſay,And alwaies, moſt of all in any danger to be in the companie of the godly. That ſome one of the companie might hauehave this aſſurance for the reſt, and for the king, that God would heare him. Moreouer, from hence we may ſee generally, what a bleſſed thing it is alwaies to keepe companie with the godly, and thoſe that walke in his wayes: for if any trouble doe befall them, they may pray together, and God may aſſure one or other for the reſt, that he is among them, and will be good vntounto them. And thus was it with the Apoſtle Paule and all his companie, when they were in that long & dangerous nauigation towards Rome, in which all of them were in feare of their liues, as it is ſet downe at large in the Acts of the Apoſtles:Act. 27.20. when they were ſo toſſed by the wind and by the ſea, that they were compelled to caſt all things out of the ſhip, to eaſe her of her burden; and the weather was ſo foule, that by the ſpace of many daies they ſaw neither Sunne nor ſtars to guide them or comfort them: ſo that all hope that they ſhould be ſaued, was taken from them: and their feare was ſo great and ſo continuall, that for fourteene daies together they faſted, and could not take their ordinary food: and there were in the ſhip at that time two hundred threeſcore and ſeuenteene ſoules, among whom was Paule a priſoner, and ſome other Chriſtians with him. At which time we may be aſſured, that he and the reſt that feared God, prayed earneſtly vntounto him, that they might be ſaued: and God did not onelyonly heare them, but gaue vntounto Paule aſſurance thereof by a viſion of an Angell that appeared vntounto him in the night, and ſaid vntounto him, That for his ſake all ſhould be ſaued, onelyonly the ſhip ſhould be loſt; and this as hee did beleeue, ſo hee moſt confidently auoucheth it vntounto them: and exhorteth them earneſtly to eat their meat,Verſe 36. and to be comforted, and doubt not but the Lord would ſaue them all. Then it is ſaid, that all of them began to pull vp their hearts, and to be of good courage, and alſo to take their meat. So that here we ſee, how in a common calamitie that was vponupon a multitude, God gaue aſſurance of deliuerance but vntounto one, who could ſay, as he did, I know that God will helpe: but all the reſt had the benefit of it; for thereby, their hearts that ſo failed before that they could not eat their meat, now began to bee of good courage.Moſes at the red ſea by prayer was aſſured for all the reſt, that God would helpe them.
So was it with the children of Iſrael, when they came out of Aegypt, and were now in the wilderneſſe, and Pharoah and his hoaſt ſo purſued them, that he had them at this diſaduantage, that the great mountaines were on both ſides of them, the terrible red ſea was before them, to hinder all paſſage, and he and his great armie marched after them to deſtroy them,Exod. 14.10. as it is ſet downe in the booke of Exodus: whereupon they were all ſore afraid when they ſaw them, and cried vntounto the Lord; but yet they had no aſſurance that he did heare them, and would deliuer them: but rather they looked to be deſtroyed, and ſo through impatience and vnbeleefe did murmure againſt Moſes, that he had brought them out of Aegypt. Moſes alſo he crieth vntounto the Lord for helpe, and he receiueth aſſurance of it for them all, that God would ſaue them, and deſtroy their enemies. For the Lord ſpake vntounto him, and told him, how he ſhould diuide the ſea, and goe through it, and ſo eſcape, and the Aegyptians ſhould follow them and be drowned: and thereupon he ſpeaketh comfortably vntounto them, Feare yee not, ſtand ſtill, Verſe 13.and behold the ſaluation of the Lord, which hee will ſhew to you this day: for the Aegiptians whom yee hauehave ſeene this day, yee ſhall neuer ſee them againe: the Lord ſhall fight for you, therefore hold you your peace: and ſo it came to paſſe, as appeareth in the ſame chapter. Thus in this great multitude of many thouſands, when all were partakers of all common danger and feare, and ſo prayed all together for one thing, God gaue to one of them for the reſt, euen to Moſes for all the people, this aſſurance of faith, that he could and did ſay, I know that God doth heare vsus, and will helpe vsus; and the reſt though they could not attaine vntounto it themſelues, yet they were partakers of the fruit of his prayers; not onelyonly in that they were deliuered as well as himſelfe, but they had ſome aſſurance of it beforehand from him, otherwiſe they could not hauehave done as they did, ſo confidently to aduenture through the ſea. So may it come to paſſe with vsus, if we be in any common danger with others, and hauehave ſome excellent men among vsus to pray with vsus, God may giuegive them that aſſurance of deliuerance according to the greatneſſe of their faith, which we in our weakeneſſe cannot attaine vntounto: and yet ſuch is the fruit of the communion of Saints, that we ſhall inioy the benefit of it, and be comforted by it: whereas if we were without them, we could not hauehave it at all; as the Iſraelites could not hauehave had any comfort here in their diſtreſſe, if they had bene ſome few of them, or many together, for the Lord reuealed it onelyonly to Moſes, though it were for their ſakes alſo.
Elias by prayer obtained aſſurance of rain for all the reſt in his time.And here againe for this purpoſe we may very fitly remember the example of the Prophet Eliah, how in the daies of king Ahab, when there was ſuch a great drought in the land of Iſrael, by the ſpace of three yeares and an halfe, that there was neither water nor graſſe almoſt to be found in all the countrey either for man or beaſt: at that time there was this Elijah and a godly widow of Sarepta, with whom he did ſoiourne, and diuers others godly men and women, For Obadiah one of the kings ſeruants had hid from the perſecution of Iezabell, one hundred of the Lords Prophets: All theſe we may be aſſured at this time did earneſtly deſire raine, and often prayed vntounto God for it: yet onelyonly the Prophet Elijah obtained it by his prayer for himſelfe and for the reſt. And though eueryevery one of the other might do ſomewhat in their meaſure to further it, yet the Apoſtle aſcribeth this benefit onelyonly to his prayers,Iam. 5.18. ſaying, Elias prayed, and the heauen gaue raine, and the earth brought forth her fruit. So that here a multitude praying together for one thing, one receiued it for all the other: and not onelyonly ſo, but he had an aſſurance of it before it came, for the comfort of the reſt, & the glory of God, which by feruent prayer he obtained. For when hee had prayed in the top of mount Carmel ſeuen times for raine, he knew aſſuredly at the laſt, that it was comming; and therefore did not onelyonly tell Ahab, 1. King. 18.41.that there was a ſound of much raine, but afterwards ſent his ſeruant vntounto him, and bad him make readie his chariot apace, and goe downe quickly, leaſt the raine ſhould ſtay him: and in the meane while the heauen was blacke with clouds and wind, and there was a great raine. Thus we ſee what great benefit all they in thoſe dayes had by the prayer of Elias, praying with them,The like may we attaine vntounto in our meaſure. and for them, both for the obtaining of raine, and for the aſſurance of it beforehand. The like benefit may we hauehave in meaſure by others that ſhall pray with vsus in ſuch caſes, if they pray in the ſpirit, and faith, and continue as he did. For the Apoſtle in ſpeaking of him, leaſt we ſhould thinke that this example of his did not appertaine vntounto vsus one whit (for as he was a Prophet, and a rare man, not one ſuch more to be found in the world) ſaith thus,Iam. 5.17. Helias was a man ſubiect to the like paſsions that we are, and he prayed, &c. giuing vsus to vnderſtand, that as he preuailed for others, ſo may we doe alſo: for he bringeth it in to encourage men to deſire others to pray for them in the time of their need. Therefore when many ſtriue together of vnequal ſtrength about one thing, as to remooue a great ſtone, or ſome peece of timber; if there be among them, young men, or women, and children, and ſicke folke, and ſuch as can doe little or nothing, and but one ſtrong man in their company like vntounto the great gyant Goliah, or vntounto Samſon; though all of them may helpe ſome thing, yet this one by his great ſtrength ſhall doe ſo much, that all that the other doe ſhall not be diſcerned, and ſo all ſhall be aſcribed vntounto him, and he alone ſhall be ſaid to doe it, becauſe all of them could not hauehave done it without him, and they all did nothing in compariſon of him. And beſides he may be of that great wiſedome, and ſo know the meaſure of his ſtrength, and what is fit for ſuch a purpoſe, that he may ſay whiles they are about it, or before they begin, Now I know that the thing is ouercome, or as good as done: when others ſhall feare that they ſhall doe no great matter, or are like neuer to preuaile: and ſo they ſhall not onelyonly obtaine their purpoſe by his meanes, but by his wordes be encouraged in the doing of it, yea comforted before they begin. So is it when many of vnequall faith pray together. Therefore as it is well for them that ſhall hauehave ſuch ſtrong men in their company, to labour with them: ſo ſhall it be much more happy for thoſe that ſhall hauehave them that are now weake in faith to pray for them.
The like may be ſayd of that that befell the Iewes in the dayes of king Hezekiah, as it is ſet downe in the ſecond booke of the Chronicles,2. Chro. 32.1. where firſt it is ſaid, that Saneherib king of Aſhur, when he came vp againſt Ieruſalem with a great hoſt, they were all afraid of his greatneſſe: but at laſt this good king getteth by prayer more aſſurance of faith, then the reſt, and ſo bad his nobles and people not feare him:Verſe 7. Hezekiah had aſſurance of Gods helpe for the comfort of all his people. ſaying, Be ſtrong and couragious, feare not, neither be afraid for the king of Asſhur, neither for all the multitude that is with him: for there bee more with vsus than bee with him: with him is an arme of fleſh, but with vsus is the Lord our God to helpe vsus, and to fight our battels: and then it is ſaid that the people were comforted by his words; inſinuating that they were wauering, and doubtfull before. Now that he came to this aſſurance by prayer, there is no doubt, though there be no mention of it in theſe words: for beſides that the Lord doth thus vnuſually giuegive it, (as hath beene ſeene before) this good king in this diſtreſſe we may be aſſured did not neglect it: eſpecially when afterwards in the ſame chapter there is mention made of his prayer. Thus the king for himſelfe and for the reſt had this aſſured vntounto him, that he knew, that God would helpe them, ſo was not only comforted himſelfe, but comforted others in this great feare. Afterwards it fell out, that when the daunger increaſed, and his faith ſomewhat fayled, he receiued this benefit of comfort in his feare from another, euen for the Prophet Iſaijah: For it is ſaid,And afterwards the Prophet had it for the comfort of the king. Verſe 20. that after this the king of Asſhur ſent his captaine Rabſakeh, who with great threatning and rayling wordes ſought to terrifie the people, who to that end cried out vntounto them vponupon the wall in the Iewiſh language. Then Hezekiah the king, and Iſaiah the Prophet prayed againſt this, and cryed to heauen: but it ſeemeth that the king for all this had yet no great aſſurance in himſelfe, that God would deliuer him: but Iſaiah that prayed with him had it for him and for the reſt, and did comfort him. For it is thus written of Hezehiah, that he went into the houſe of the Lord to pray, and ſent meſſengers to the Prophet, to deſire him,2. King. 19.1. that he would do ſo to: and ſo he did, and thereupon ſent him this meſſage, (which aſſurance God gaue him by prayer for the reſt) That he ſhould not feare his words, Verſe. 10.for he would ſend a blaſt vponupon him, and he ſhould heare a noyſe, and ſhould returne into his owne land, and there he ſhould die by the ſword, as it alſo came to paſſe. And here though hee was a Prophet to whom God ſhewed many things extraordinarily, yet he prepared him for that worke of his ſpirit: and prayer being one ſpeciall meanes to make vsus fit to receiue any grace of the ſpirit; here it is ſaid that he prayed, and had this aſſurance. And ſo here in this diſtreſſe many praying together, the Prophet Iſaiah onelyonly for all the reſt ſayth, Now know I, that the Lord will heare and helpe vsus.
But before this I ſhould hauehave placed the example of that good king Iehoſhaphat (which is ſet downe alſo in the ſame booke of the Chronicles) both becauſe it was before this in order of time, and eſpecially becauſe it is moſt fit for this purpoſe.2. Chron. 20 2. Iehoſhaphat praying for helpe againſt his enemies, one of the cō pany had aſſurance of it for all the reſt. For in his dayes a great hoaſt of the Ammonites, and Moabites, and out of mount Seir, came vp againſt Ieruſalem: which did ſo terrifie him, and all the reſt of his people, that he ſet himſelfe to feare the Lord, and proclaimed a faſt through all Iudah, and they all gathered themſelues together, to aske counſell of the Lord, and they came vp out of all cities of Iudah to inquire of the Lord: and Iehoſhaphat was in this congregation in the houſe of the Lord, and there in the midſt of them made a feruent prayer vntounto God for helpe againſt them: ſaying, O Lord God of our fathers, &c. Verſe 14.as it is ſet downe at large there. And it is further added, that there was one Iahaziel a Leuit, and vponupon him, after, or in the time of this prayer, came the ſpirit of the Lord in the middeſt of the Congregation, and hee ſaid, Hearken ye all Iudah, and you inhabitants of Ieruſalem, and thou king Iehoſhaphat, Thus ſayth the Lord vntounto you: feare not, neither be afraid of this great multitude, for the battell is not yours, but Gods: to morrow go you down and meet with them in ſuch a place, ye ſhall not need to fight in this battell, stand ſtill, moue not, and behold the ſaluation of the Lord towards you: & again very confidently he biddeth them not feare, but go out againſt them, & the Lord would be with them: and ſo it came to paſſe, as appeareth in the ſame chapter: for the Lord layd ambuſhments againſt them, ſo that the children of Amon and Moab roſe againſt the inhabitants of mount Seir,Verſ. 22. to ſlay and deſtroy them; & when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, eueryevery one helped to deſtroy another. Here we ſee alſo in this common danger and feare, when many prayed together, there was one man at the leaſt, to whom God gaue this aſſurance, to the great comfort of all the reſt, that he did openly ſay, Now I know that the Lord will heare his anointed, and helpe him from heauen by the mightie power of his right hand. And though others in that companie could not ſay ſo, yet God gaue it to him for all the reſt; who if he had beene wanting, the reſt might ſtill hauehave languiſhed in their feare, vnleſſe God had raiſed vp the ſpirit of ſome other.In this reſpect we ought to make of the companie and preſence of the godly. And ſo wee ſee what a bleſſed thing it was to hauehave ſuch a faithfull and zealous man in their companie, to pray for them. Therefore let vsus make much of the company of the godly, eſpecially let vsus be deſirous to be partakers of their prayers: that when as we be weake our ſelues, and diſcomforted in our ſelues, yet we may be ſtrengthened and vpheld by them. For as when one lyeth very ſicke and like to die, and all about him are in feare of it, there may be a skilfull Phiſition, or ſome of great experience, who may ſee great tokens of life in him more than all the reſt, & ſo comfort them in hope of it, when they are all diſcouraged: So when many are in trouble, and looke for no way but one, as we ſay, the Lord may ſo open the eyes of the mind of one, who by faith after earneſt prayer, may ſee into that helpe that God hath promiſed in his word, and comfort them with the hope of it. And for want of this, we are many times more diſmayed in trouble, than otherwiſe we might be. Therefore in all affliction, if wee deſire comfort from God, let vsus deſire thoſe that are faithfull and godly to pray with vsus and for vsus.
It followeth in the words of the text,His annointed, that is, Dauid, & why ſo called. that The Lord will helpe his annointed. This is then further to be conſidered, that Dauid prayeth himſelfe, and teacheth the people alſo ſo to doe, That God would helpe his annointed: by which word he meaneth himſelfe, and they meane Dauid their king. VVho is ſo called, becauſe he was annointed with holy oyle, to be king, according to the cuſtome of that time: by which as by an outward viſible ceremonie, they that were made kings, were ſeperated and put apart from the reſt of the people, and inueſted into that office and high calling. VVherby alſo they were taught to labour for thoſe gifts of the holy ghoſt, which were needfull for that function: and to beleeue, that if they did ſo, God would beſtow them vponupon them in that meaſure, that was moſt conuenient for them. Now that Dauid was thus annointed to that office, it is moſt euident in his ſtorie: where it is ſaid, that when Saule by diſobeying of Gods commaundement, in not killing the Amalekites, was caſt off from the right of the kingdome, and Samuel was willed to goe tell him ſo:1. Sam. 15. Chap. 16.1. he ſtill continued mourning for him, vntill the Lord did reprooue him for it; and bad him fill his horne with oyle, and he would ſend him to Iſhai the Bethleemite, for hee had prouided a king among his ſonnes: and he did ſo, and cauſed all his ſonnes to come before him from the eldeſt to the youngeſt, and when Dauid came, the Lord ſaid vntounto him, Ariſe and annoint him, for this is he: Verſ. 8.then Samuel tooke the horne of oyle, and annointed him in the middest of his brethren: and the spirit of the Lord came vponupon Dauid from that day forward, euen as it departed from Saule, being cast off of God, and an euill spirit was ſent of the Lord to vex him. Thus Dauid was annointed, that is, made king. And becauſe this was not onelyonly ouer the people of God, but ſpecially by the commaundement of God, therefore hee is called his annointed, that is, one appointed to be king ouer Gods people by the Lord himſelfe: euen as Dauid doth oftentimes call Saule in reſpect of his firſt annointing and calling, The Lords annointed. As when hee had Saule in a caue, and his men perſuaded him to kill him, he ſaid, The Lord keepe me from doing that thing vntounto my master, 1. Sam. 24.7.The Lords annointed, to lay mine hands vponupon him, for hee is the annointed of the Lord: Chap 26.9.and at another time hee ſaid to Abiſhai, Destroy him not, for who can lay his hands on the Lords annointed, and be guiltleſse? In this part of the prayer then hee doth aſſure himſelfe, that becauſe hee had not intruded himſelfe into that roome,He confirmeth his faith in Gods defence by the lawfulneſſe of his calling. but was lawfully called thereunto by the Lord, that therefore God would defend him in the ſame againſt his enemies: and teacheth them to pray in that faith alſo, That ſeeing God had ſet him ouer them to be their king, and he was no tyrant or vſurper, that therefore God would preſerue him in that place, whereunto he had called him: and ſo from the lawfulneſſe of his calling, hee doth comfort himſelfe and them, that God would heare them for him, and defend him. And truly, there was great reaſon of that: for if an earthly king, when he appointeth any to be iudges ouer his people, doth alſo protect them in that office by his lawes, and by all his ſubiects: ſo that in their whole circuit they hauehave the Sherife of the Shire, and all his men, with the reſt of the chiefe knights and gentlemen, and other inferiour officers to attend vponupon them, becauſe they repreſent the kings perſon; and the Iudge he comforteth himſelfe in all his lawfull affaires againſt all the deſperat attempts of theeues, witches, murtherers, and all malefactors, that ſeeke to hurt him, That the king, who hath called him to that place, will defend him in it, and not ſuffer him to ſuſtaine any dammage for the executing of his office: then the Lord, the king of kings, appointing Dauid in this place, and making him to be his vicegerent vponupon earth ouer that people, much more would defend him in it againſt his enemies. And as this was true, ſo he did beleeue it, and taught them ſo to do, and to pray in that faith, that God would ſend helpe vntounto him, becauſe he was his annointed.
And this that Dauid ſayth here,So may al lawfull princes. is true not onelyonly of his owne perſon, but of all other kings and princes that are the Lords annointed; that is, who are come to their kingdomes lawfully, either by free election, or lineall diſcent, and ſo are put in by God; it is true I ſay, that the Lord will defend them in all their lawfull attempts which they take in hand by vertue of their office, ſo farre as may make for his glorie and the good of his Church. And in that reſpect, all people that hauehave ſuch ſet ouer them to raigne, may with great freedome and comfort pray for them, That the Lord would defend them in all dangers, euen as hee hath ſet them ouer them at the firſt. Therfore ſeeing the Lord hath vouchſafed vsus this merciemercy, to giuegive vsus ſuch a worthie king to raigne ouer vsus, who is his annointed, that is, one that commeth to the crowne not by vſurpation, by murthering the right heires, as ſome hauehave done; not by tyrannicall inuaſion and conqueſt, but by inheritance, lineally deſcending from his auntient progenitors, the noble kings of this realme: therefore, I ſay, we may with great aſſurance pray to God for him;In this reſpect we may with great hope pray for the life of our king. Prouerb. 28.2. that as hee hath hetherto ouerthrowne the plots of traytors in his owne countrey of Scotland, and in this kingdom alſo of England (both of them his iuſt inheritance) ſo it would pleaſe him to doe ſtill; and ſo he will doe, if our ſinnes doe not deſerue the contrarie: For many times becauſe of the ſinnes of the people, a land often changeth her princes, as the VViſeman ſaith: and as we ſee in the kingdome of Iſrael, falling vntounto idolatrie,1. King. 16.8. that in the ſpace of one yeare they had three or foure kings ſucceſsiuely to raigne ouer them. Therefore ſeeing it is our bounden dutie to pray for him,1. Tim. 2.1. according to the doctrine of the Apoſtle, who willeth, That ſupplications, and prayers, interceſsions, and giuing of thankes be made for all men; and namely, for kings, and all that are in authoritie: let vsus be willing to doe it the rather, becauſe he is the Lords annointed, that is, come to the crowne by all lawfull and peaceable meanes, approoued in the law of God, that ſo wee may ſay from thence, I know that the Lord will helpe his annointed. So that though we could hauehave no comfort from our ſelues, that we ſhould be found worthie of ſuch a prince; yet ſeeing it hath pleaſed the Lord in the riches of his merciemercy to ſet him ouer vsus for the good of this land, wee may hope, that he will hauehave reſpect vntounto his annointed, and not to ſuffer men to put downe him, whom he himſelfe hath ſet vp. Euen as we had great experience of this in the dayes of our late Soueraigne the Queene, how the Lord did miraculouſly preſerue her out of the hands of the Papiſts her enemies, when ſhe was caſt into priſon, and as ſhe then ſaid of her ſelfe (Tanquam eius) as a ſheepe, eueryevery houre readie to be carried to the ſlaughter: and at the laſt brought her to the kingdome: ſo in the ſame he did as wonderfully preſerue her in many dangers and conſpiracies, becauſe ſhee was his annointed.Dauid in many troubles prayeth in hope of Gods defence, becauſe he was his annointed.
And thus Dauid doth often comfort himſelfe in his prayers, when hee was in great trouble, and in feare of the loſſe ſometimes both of his kingdome and life: and that both before he came to the crowne, and after, he comforteth himſelfe with this, That he was the Lords annointed, that is, that Samuel did annoint him to bee king, by the commaundement of God; and that that was not done vntounto him in vaine, but that the Lord, who had called him vntounto it, would both bring him to it in time, and defend him in it to the end. As when hee was kept from the publicke aſſemblies by Saule, and his great crueltie, who neuer left ſeeking after his life, but hunted after him continually,1. Sam. 26.20. as a man would after a Partridge (as he ſayth of himſelfe) whereupon he was driuen ſometimes to hide himſelfe, and ſometimes to flie out of the land, and very ſeldome durſt be ſeene openly, he prayeth thus, O Lord God of hoſtes heare my prayer, Pſal. 84.8.hearken O God of Iaakob: behold O God our ſhield, and looke vponupon the face of thine annointed: that is, not onelyonly and principally vponupon thy ſonne Ieſus Chriſt, the Meſsiah, who is appointed to be king and ſauiour of the Church, and for his ſake doe it: but looke vponupon me whom thou haſt appointed to be king, and (as thou knoweſt) I hauehave not thruſt in my ſelfe, for then I might well thinke that all this were iuſtly come vponupon mee. And thus may all lawfull kings comfort themſelues in all their lawfull proceedings, againſt all the malitious attempts of their deſperat enemies, That God will defend them, becauſe of their calling and place that they be in, and people that he hath ſet them ouer; and ſay, Looke vponupon the face of thine annointed, that is, conſider good Lord the place that I am in. And ſo doth Dauid againe in the ſecond Pſalme; where he doth with great admiration complaine of the multitude and maliciouſneſſe of his enemies, ſaying:Pſal. 2.1. Why doe the Heathen rage, and the people murmure in vaine? the kings of the earth band themſelues, and the princes are aſſembled together againſt the Lord, & againſt his Chriſt, or annointed, ſaying, Let vsus breake their bands, and caſt their cords from vsus. VVhere becauſe he was a figure of Chriſt, therefore he ſpeaketh of himſelfe vnderunder that name, calling himſelfe the Lords Chriſt, or the Lords annointed: as wee ſee how afterwards it was verified in the perſon of Chriſt himſelfe,Act. 4.27. as the Apoſtles expound it in their prayer, and ſay, Doubtleſse againſt thine holy ſonne Ieſus, whom thou haddeſt annointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Iſrael gathered themſelues together. But afterwards Dauid comforteth himſelfe in the ſame Pſalme with hope of Gods defence,Pſal. 2.5. becauſe of his calling, and bringeth in the Lord ſpeaking thus of him: Then he ſhall speake vntounto them in his wrath, and vex them in his ſore diſpleaſure, ſaying, Euen I hauehave ſet my king vponupon Sion mine holy mountaine: as if hee had ſaid, he is my king, and I hauehave ſet him vp, therefore I will defend him. VVhereas if he had ſet vp himſelfe, he could not hauehave had this comfort. But I ſee, that I cannot finiſh this doctrine at this preſent, but muſt leaue it vnperfect vntill the next day.