King Solomons Solace, Book · Chapter 44
CAP. XLIIII.
The common conſent and ſubſcription of the Princes to this collection, and the concluſion.
THe former Wordes beeing ſo written and finiſhed, and the two Secretaries hauing read ouer the ſame in the audience of the Princes, they asked whether they all well liked of thoſe thinges, with the manner and cariage thereof? To whom they all anſwered with one voice and conſent, that they liked all thinges right well, and were very glad that thoſe matters were ſo happily rememembred to bee preſerued for poſteritie. Moreouer they ſaide: And wee nothing doubt, but that the King himſelfe when he ſhall either read or heare thoſe Words of his with the manner of the report & collection therof, he will both like, allow, and ratify the ſame. Neither wil we omit or deferre to ſolicite his moſt noble grace therein: for as it concerneth the King himſelfe, and the truth and authoritie of his wordes: ſo it doth and ſhall for euer expreſſe our hearty deſier to exonerate our ſelues, and to expreſſe that duty which wee owe and muſt yéeld both to his highneſſe and the holy Church. Finally wee moſt heartily thank you (moſt reuerende Father) for this your paineful diligence and willing readineſſe in the plaine reſolution of thoſe things which were or might bee holden ſuſpenſiue concerning either the Kinges perſon or his wordes: neither are wee vnthankefull vntounto you the Kinges moſt truſtie Secretaries, and to you (Maiſter Recorder) for the writing and recording of all thoſe matters ſo needfull to bee knowne & profitable for poſteritie.
Againſt them which ſclander the King and his wordes.* After this Zadok ſpake againe and ſaide. But my Lords, that all theſe thinges with our godly purpoſe may the better proceede and happily proſper, for the glory of GOD, the comfort of our moſt dread Soueraigne, and the benefite of his Church: Let vsus endeuour (as much as in vsus lieſh) to baniſh from hence malignant and froward mouthes, and let the lippes of all them that ſeeke to ſclander the King and his wordes bee abandoned: But let the eyes of them that feare Iehovah and louelove his holy annointed, looke hither, and beholde onelyonly that which is right: Let their eye-liddes looke ſtraight before them, and let the right bee hearde and conſidered in wiſedome.Thankſgiving to God. Finally in the concluſion and vpſhot of this our councell and conference let vsus turne our ſelues to GOD in holy inuocation and prayer: Wherein, as it is meete, let vsus firſt bleſſe and praiſe Iehovah our GOD, for all thoſe excellent bleſſings the which he hath powred forth on vsus vnderunder the happy gouernment and noble miniſtry of our Soveraigne Lorde King Solomon, for the which (beeing ſo abundant in his louing and large mercies) wee are not able ſufficiently to bee thankefull: yet let vsus prouoke our ſelues to that meaſure we hauehave,pſal. 103. as the kings father did when hee ſaide Bleſſe the Lorde O my ſoule, and all that is within mee praiſe his holy name. Bleſſe the Lorde O my ſoule, and forget not all his retributions. Next, let vsus beſeech his moſt high Grace, that yet in his tender mercies and louing kindenes, hee would preſerue the life of our dread Soueraigne,Prayer for the King. and renew the ſame, as the Eagle, that hee woulde conſolate his Soule and keepe him in well-fare and peace: that we alſo may yet liue and proſper vnderunder him, as wee hauehave done theſe fourty yeeres, in the right God's ſeruice, tranquillitie and peace.
Thirdly let vsus pray to the Lorde of heauen for our ſelues that our ſinnes may be pardoned, and our true obedience both to his Grace and our noble Soueraigne renewed and confirmed, that thereby the ſooner (for the ſake of his holy anointed) hee may ſpare vsus, and not remoue from vsus (in his wrath) that thing which in his louelove he hath vouchſafed vsus, that his louing fauour might bee yet continued and encreaſes towardes vsus to the eternall ioy of our heartes.
Fourthly let vsus heartily beſeech him, that this our Collection of the Kings words ſo rightly correſpondent to thoſe ancient,Eccles. 1.1. and learned authors from whence hee has taken them, to bee thus conueighed vntounto vsus, may from hence proceede with happie ſucceſſe among the Lordes people, as whereby not onelyonly the Paſtor, in the Church, but the Magiſtrate in the Common-wealth, may take inſtruction and comfort euen in the middeſt of all the croſſing aduentures incident to either place.
Laſtly, let vsus humble entreate the Lorde GOD to grant, that wee and eueryevery of vsus may the rather by the King his Examples, Leſſons, and Rules of pietie, learne rightly to knowe and louelove GOD: to knowe and conſider of our ſelues, and the depth of this worldes Vanitie, as whereby the ſooner abandoning and forſaking the counſailes of the vngodly,pſal. 1.i. the wayes of the wicked and the ſeates of the ſcorners, we may truely and timely conuert our ſelues to the diuine Maieſtie, and be wholy dedicated to his honour, in his feare. All theſe thinges beeing performed, let vsus againe repaire to his highnes preſence, who doubtleſſe by this time, muſeth very much of this our long abſence. To this all the Princes and Nobles aſſented, conioyned in moſt holy and reuerende prayers to the Lord, from whoſe ſpirite they received no ſmall conſolation and gladneſſe, and thence mutually beſtowing thankes, they brake vp, and conueighed themſelues (in all dutifull manner) to the royall preſence of King Solomon, their Soueraigne Lord.
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FINIS.
End of the text · John Carpenter, King Solomons Solace (1606)