The Theater of Gods Judgments, Book 2 · Chapter 49
CHAP. XLIX. How rare and geason good Princes have beene at all times.
IT appeareth by all these former histories, what a multitude there hath beene of dissolute, proud, cruell, and vicious Princes, and of tyrans and oppressors, so that the number of good & vertuous ones seemeth to have been but small in comparison of them: which is also intimated by the tenor of the histories of the Kings of Juda & Israel, of whom (being in number forty) but ten onelyonly were found that pleased God in their reignes, and they of Juda; and yet of them ten, one was corrupted in his old age, and fell away to vile iniquities: but of Israel there was not one that demeaned not himself evill in his estate, and dealt not unjustly and wickedly before the Lord. As for the first Emperors, what manner of men they were for the most part, we have already sufficiently declared: Wherefore it was not unfitly spoken of him, that jeasting-wise told the Emperor Claudius, That all the good Caesars might be engraven in one little ring, they were so few: so that then a King or Prince endued with vertue, bounty, and clemency, and that loveth his subjects, endeth strifes, and kindleth concord, is a speciall note of Gods favour, and a gift inestimable; and that people that hath such a Prince for their support and stay, are infinitely blessed; they lie as it were upon a sunnie banke, and ride in a most safe and quiet haven, whilest others are exposed and laid open to the cruelty of time, and are tossed and turmoyled with the waves of calamitie and oppression; therefore this may be their song of mirth and rejoycing, whilest other nations sing nothing but welladaies:
A sad afflicted soule, all pale with griefe and wrong,
Being eas'd from sence of dole, doth straitway change his song
From moane to mirth, for why his thick and cloudy night,
Is turn'd to purity of Titans glorious light.
The raging storme is past, and feare of shipwracke gone,
Their weary ships at last a calmie shore have won.
The Pilot safely lies reposed under lee,
Not fearing frowne of skies, or other miserie.
The strong and mighty blasts of furious winds are still,
They doe no more cast downe huge Firre trees at their will:
A pleasant gale succeeds of fruitfull Zephyrus,
Which recreates the seeds of spring voluptuous.
Pack hence you wicked ones, with all your equipage
Of murdering champions, envenomed with rage:
Your horse are tir'd with toyle, and all your strength's pluckt downe,
Your swords have caught a foyle by lovely peaces crowne.
O blessed glorious peace (that beautifiest each land,
And mak'st all dangers cease, whereof in feare we stand)
Distill thy favours pure (which are immortall things)
On us that lie secure in shadow of thy wings.
Even those thy holy traine, which still attendance yeeld,
Let them wax young againe, and flourish in our field:
Iustice and verity, which ballance right from wrong,
Let them attend on thee with equity among.
Then shall the Swaines rejoyce under a Fig-tree lien,
And sing with cheerfull voice untill the Suns decline:
And all the world shall ring with ecchoes of our praise,
Which to the Lord our King we warble out alwayes.
The simple harmlesse Lambe no greedy Wolfe shall feare,
Nor Kid new wain'd from dam shall stand in awe of Beare:
But Sheepe and Wolfe shall make like friends one flocke and fold,
A fearelesse childe shall take the rule of Tigres old.
You flockes of Sion hill which through so many feares
Of warre and crosses, still have sowne your field with teares,
Take comfort to your hope, strait comes the joyfull houre
To reap a fruitfull crop for all your torments soure.
But alas it commeth to passe through the sinnes and wickednesse of men, that Realmes are oftentimes scarred with the alarmes and assaults of foes, and strangely afflicted with many evils, when as the State of governement Esay 3.is troubled and changed by the iniquities of the people.