Sermon Preached 1 September 1640, Sermon
DEVT. 25. 17.
Remember what Amaleck did unto thee by the way when you were come out of Egypt.
IT is no mans wiſedome, nor buſineſſe, to provoke a quiet enemie; but it is every wiſe mans worke (eſpecially if truſted in any publique way) to conſider, diſcover, and repreſent their foes as they finde them affected, which is moſt aſſured by their actions. So that, though the ordinary motions of prudent Chriſtians are moderate, even, and equall, and required to be ſo (as theſe Iſraelites were not to firſt offend or invade the children of Eſau) yet when wee have to deale with men, whoſe counſels and practiſes are like their ends, dareing and driving in deſtructive waies, and can conclude no better upon us, if they keep cloſe to their owne fundamentall principles; we have reaſon, and it is religon, ſafe, and therefore ſeaſonable, to change our temper and conſtitutions of our counſels, and that before dangers and difficulties grow too great, and the worke prove an impoſſible pull. For if when the face of affaires is ſo altered, we keepe our ſober, ſolemne, paſſive pace, and in a ſuffering modeſtie, or confident ſecurity, invite an ambitious incroaching adverſary, to advance and make imbracements upon us, we may thanke our owne folly and weakeneſſe, that would not prevent pregnant feares while they were future, but onelyonly hope to play an after-game, when they are turned into preſſing, great, and growing grievances, of a diſabling deſtructive nature, when there is no way left of reliefe, but by their merciemercy, or miſtaking, both which it ſhould much trouble any judicious rationall man to truſt, as if it were not a moſt irrecoverable error, to caſt our ſelves into our old ſworne enemies armes, to be embraced, or cruſht as they ſee occaſion.
Theſe words therefore that I now read unto you, are laid in by meeke Moſes, a man of no cruell counſels, whoſe naturall temper carried him to peace and pardon, yet you ſee here hee croſſes and condemnes his nature, commends and commands thoſe counſels that preſſe and put on to armes and action, and with ſuch full force and freedome, that in coole blood, as a buſineſſe not to be forgotten, hee goes out of his way, with an inconſequence, to bring it in, for you ſhall finde no dependance of theſe words, nor any ſuitableneſſe in their ſubject, but very diſſonant, being the former paſſages of the chapter tending to ending of controverſies by arbitration and relaxation by common equity mitigation of corporall puniſhments, that no brother ſhould have above forty ſtripes, but here tis commanded to be laid on without limits.
So that if you will ſurvey and conſider this Scripture, you will finde it of great occaſionall concernment, and uttered to the chiefe Commanders of the Campe and Common-wealth of Iſrael: and being of an hiſtoricall nature, and not the originall, but the repetition of a record▪ entered as an act of State, upon a Counſell of warre, to revive, and rivet it home hot unto the heart (as you may finde the rite and reaſon of it,Exod. 17. Exod. 17. with an expreſſe command for the rehearſing of it in the eares of Ioſhua and the victors ſome few daies after the diſcomfiture of Amalecke.
Now for the diſcourſing upon this hiſtoricall relation, that was laid in, as a law to be executed by ſucceeding generations, we cōceive it convenient being point of fact, to open the termes, to conſider the fundamentall right, in the reaſons of it, and ſo put it home in a particular practicke parallel, as wee have the like occaſion for reflexive worke. Firſt, conſider who theſe men were, what nation, what partie, that are thus to be remembred in way of diſtance and defiance. Now Amalecke was a people that deſcended of Eſaus line,Gen. 36. by his firſt wife of the three, which he took to vex his father Iſaack, Gen. 28.borne of a concubine to Eliphaz, Eſaus eldeſt ſonne who was begotten in the height of his hatred to his brother Iacob, Ezeck. 25.and ſo all proceeded, as revenge from an old hatred, and yet of the ſeed of Abraham (you ſee) by extraction, and upon that ground, Iſrael inhibited to invade them. What is meant here by remembring, It is to be be interpreted by action and occaſion; The event did beſt lead the uſe of the intent. It is not onelyonly ſaid, remember with joy and pity, what you did, and they ſuffered in the day of battell till the going downe of the ſunne, but what they did to you, or attempted, and intended to have done. Remember that with all the grieving, galling aggravations of it, Clemencie will come in time enough, when you are ſafe ſetled in Canaan, and they paſt doing of miſchiefe. Remember them Cum effectu, ſo ſoone as you have peace abroad, remember to warre with them. Let them not reſt, nor rooſt among you; but diſquiet, diſtreſſe, and vex the Amalekites, recompence tribulation to them that thus troubled you, as farre as the ſword can reach, cut them off that trouble you. The reſt of the meaning we ſhall worke in occaſionally.
The nature of this Scripture fals into two conſiderations, A judicial law of that Nation, Remember A. maleck, and the ground of it in a particular grievance, what he did to you when you came out of Egypt: winde them up together, and they amount to this concluſion, That this penall Proviſo, this Law of diffidation or defiance concerning Amaleck, was moſt reaſonably made.
The Jeſuites, that are the Novell Colledge of Auſtrian Augurs, but too perfidious to be Feciales, and yet have given to themſelves a faculty to determine all caſes in ordine ad ſpiritualia; never meaſuring truths or titles by the line of equity, but the laſt of ambition; theſe creatures that have more of the diviners in them than of the divine, will be content to hold Amaleck a type of Antichriſt, and ſo this proceeding plauſible, if we will but hold the great Turke, or the Puritans to be the Antichriſt, Theſſ. 22.but they muſt excuſe us, and Arminius ſhall judge for mee (in his publique determinations) before he went to Rome who is cleare and concluſive, that the Pope is that man of ſinne, that ſervant of ſervants that began to beate his fellow ſervants: But whether theſe men and their politike party conceive it reaſon or not, none but an Amalekite would require the diſuſage or repealing of it, or charge it as a bloody Law.
Moſes did conceive it juſtifiable, who was no cruell Law-giver, and yet hee ſets it home by all meanes to preſerve the memory (as ſee the originall relation at large,Exod. 17. Exod. 17.) which he drew up not by private or onelyonly ordinary diſcretion or aſſiſtance; but by the cleare immediate word and warrant of the Lord of hoaſts, as the expreſſe was to write it in a Booke, not to truſt tradition in the caſe, but it was a Bookt record paſt in terminis to poſterity; and further he built an Altar upon the place of victory, with the Lords name and power exerciſed in the cauſe that it might be a remembrancer, and the times to come admoniſhed by this monument of Gods mercy, and the Amalekites cruelty, and here laies it fully and cloſe home in a moſt pat particular precept, as a manifeſt of the Lords mind for the future in this buſineſſe.
Firſt, conſider it muſt needs be without peradventure right, becauſe the Judge of all the World hath ſo declared it, and that in moſt expreſſe words, leaving no roome for any mitigation, reſtriction, limitation or interpretation favourable, gave no ground for quarter: that the Lord of grace, mercy, peace, ſhould thus bind up this buſineſſe of a perpetuall warre, you muſt needs conceive, and conclude there was great reaſon for it, and that will appeare, if you doe but conſider the grievance that gave ground for it.
There is in their injurious uſage all the juſtifiable cauſes of a legall warre. I doe not ſay that it was juſt or reaſonable for a private Iſraelite upon home bred hatred to proſecute a private Amalekite to the death, or to reſerve revenge upon perſonall injuries, but to uſe particular men as David did the ſingle caſhiered ſervant of an Amalekite, fed him well to diſcover his maſter.1 Sam. 30. No the Lord is not like Molech that loves to have blood in the unſavory ſacrifices of cruell private duels; let them ſingly ſubſiſt as civill men according to the lawes of nature, and humanity, Non obſtante the Nationall quarrell. This I propoſe not either as juſtifiable, or plauſible to bee practiſed, but this is the point that wee ſhall ſpeake to, That ſtates that move not neither upon anger nor haupon hatred but upon judgement and intereſt, neceſſity, publique utility, univerſall ſafety may move for ever to thoſe points, and cannot be miſtaken in thoſe affaires: Conſider to what the wiſeſt ſtatiſts, politicks and Civillians, reduce the reaſons of a juſtifiable war, and you will finde them all in this cauſe.
A war in it ſelfe is an appeale to heaven, by aſword, when otherwaies of juſtice upon earth, either by witneſſes, oaths or leagus are made void and invalid, that being forelaid we wil reduce theſe grounds to 3. heads.
The firſt ground of a lawfull war is in a way of juſt defence, which may lawfully in the progreſſe and proceſſe of the worke be driven into an offenſive, yea ſo farre that ſo they may ſatisfie and quiet future feares of being offended, and have active enemies bound to good behaviour, and give ſufficient caution that they will not inju…e; and where this is not to be had or is not truely tendered, but all truces, treaties, and pacifications, have treachery under them, force is the ſafeſt way to aſſure it; but theſe Iſraelites had this reaſon: For they did purpoſely paſſe by without any ſhew of hoſtility, and expreſt a command for their reſolution. Therefore their firſt war was a defenſive, driven the next day into an offenſive, when they were not to let their juſt anger ſet with the ſun, without they meant to give place to theſe divelliſh men, for they would have fallen in with any ſide to moleſt them (as after they did in the lives of the Judges) ſo that it was not wiſdome to forget them,Pſal. 83. that were reſolved to make the name of Iſrael no more in remembrance. If they were aware of ſuch deepe deſignes fixt as foundations of their ruine, they had reaſon by way of prevention, to anticipate future ruine by preſent revenge, for feare of a great neighbour, a juſt ground of war, if it be a legal feare, wch may fall in conſtantem Societatem & ſenatum, raiſed not onelyonly from preſent preparations, but alſo from pregnant intentions and pretentions, as well aſſured as a morall matter may be, of a profeſt proteſted enemy, whoſe minde and will is to injure for ever, and has begun to doe it, and not from a floating reſolution that may be conjectured to be better towards us, but from malignant malice: but this was the caſe of the Iſraelites having to doe with theſe enemies, therefore they had reaſon to provide for future ſecurity wch could not be had ſo long as theſe men ſubſiſted in any ſtrength to hurt.
The ſecond ground of a lawful war is, for reparation of loſſe and dammage either in perſon or goods, & that with relation to damnum emergens, in proſecution, or lucrum Ceſſans, if they had not bin moleſted. But theſe Amalekites cut off thoſe perſons, that the Lord valued at a great rate and ranſome, and they could not recompence the Lord his dammage by one daies victory. And it may be they being the hindmoſt whō they ſmote in the reare, were laden with the riches of Egypt. So that the ſucceeding generation of Amalekites were to make ſatiſfaction: eſpecially cōſidering that their poſterity would inherit their bloody hearts, and thirſt to deſtroy & vex Iſrael upon old grounds and grudges, as ſee an inſtance in the laſt of that curſed,Heſt. 3. devoted ſtocke, hauty Haman the Agagite; his anger upon a fancie, ſoone rankled into a nationall hatred, and broke out into an univerſall practiſe of his reſolution of revenge,2 Chro. 20. See how they reward us for ſparing of them. the reſerving of Agags race had like to have coſt deere; and therefore Mordecai did wiſely to follow the blow, to ruine and root out all the faction that were his dependants, diſtributed into all Provinces, & to trouble Iſrael, had got all truſt into their owne hands, for the execution of his cruell conſpiracy againſt the Jewiſh Nation, and his wife well foretold him when hee began to fall, that he ſhould fall flat, being Mordecai was a Jew, and the quarrell admitted no medium worke: Mordecai did well to heave him high, and lay him low, becauſe all muſt downe, becauſe not bowe, and be ſo baſe as to fall flat in a Perſian proſtituting proſtration, Briſton. de Regn. Perſico…. 1with his hands behind him to execution. He would not ſo far forget himſelfe, who was of the Jewiſh ſeed …ovall, whoſe place was to ſtand, not to fall in the Kings gate, to bow before the baſe remaines of a conquered people and a perfidious Traitor to the Perſians Monarchy.
The third reaſon of a juſt warre, allowed by the laws of Nature, Nations, Armes & leagues is in a way of juſt revenge, that they may be proportionably puniſht to their prodigious perfidious injuſtice, yea it was ſuch an intollerable, Pſal. 109.illegall irregularity to perſecute the poore and needy man, that they might even ſlay the broken in heart, that if Iſrael had not beene able and reſolved to revenge and make this people paſſive in a penall way, their neighbour Nations (ſpecially had it been in theſe or the times of the Grecian or Roman Monarchs) had been ingaged, though not cald for by the tacit, common conſent of Nations, concurring for the good of mankind, as a ſociable creature, they had been bound I ſay, to come in and aſſiſt to their uttermoſt. For it is in the power and is the worke of ſupreame States and Princes, not onelyonly to defend and revenge injuries done to their owne ſubjects, but even to reſiſt thoſe that violate the Laws of Nature, or Nations, & that not as they are over others, but as they are under none, and it ſeemes, and ſounds better, to vindicate others injuries then their own. Now they did come upon them againſt the Laws of Nations, being they fell upon ſuch as were weake, ſick, ſtrangers, unarmed, unable, men that were newly delivered out of cruell bondage, almoſt famiſhed before Manna came, and if it had not beene miraculouſly ſutable, it may be accidentally weakned with a new kind of diet,Amos 16. paid for all as they paſt, and profeſſed they meant it.
Theſe and ſuch like, as deal injuriouſly, againſt the law, and light of Nature, and the common good of Nations, are out-lawed, and de jure proſcribed, by theſe Laws, eſpecially theſe men that were the Banditi of the God of Heaven, that had baniſhed his feare, and ſo they were to be puniſhed for a manifeſt Nationall contempt of God, as thoſe that teach treachery, perfidiouſly practiſed perjury, permit piracy to the deſtroying of Civill ſociety, and ſuch like Enemies of Mankinde, a proceſſe punitive is to bee executed upon them. Bellum cum belluis bonum eſt. Yea, when the Lord himſelfe commanded Saul upon this ſervice, 1 Sam. 15. Hee does not barely ſay,1 Sam. 15. Do you remember what Amalek did, but I remember what Amaleck did; therefore doe you execute to the uttermoſt and deſtroy and ſpare not: and the revenge of this wrong may moſt rightly be proportioned, not only to what they did, but what they would, intended, and were prepared to doe, and drive upon deſigne, that is to be conſidered, future, poſſible, probable miſchiefe, to prevent a pernicious unpleaſing preſident. For if theſe men, had bin fleſht with ſucceſſe, that firſt invaded Iſrael, or had procured, paſt, and paid, for their peace at an eaſie rate, it would have invited others to invaſive violence, yet what they did made ſuch an impreſſion of fear, that the Spies uſed the name of Amaleck, as an argument that they dwelt in the South, when they aimed to diſparage the Land of Promiſe, and diſcourage them from entring. And therefore the Lord by Moſes had reaſon to raiſe their ſpirits,Numb 13. 29. by hopes of their ruine, who had ſhaken their confidence, by feare of being ruined by them. See what it coſt the Iſraelites in hard meaſure, whenſoever they faild in the execution of this command; God was reveng'd upon them, when ever they faild to take his vengeance. See what Saul loſt by ſaving ſome of Amaleck, upon pious, peaceable, pretentions, as if hee ſo long after as a King had power to give pardon and relaxation from that penall Law; hee that would not cut off their poſterity from the Earth, deprived his own of ſucceſſion, though he was not put out of perſonall poſſeſſion; that forgetting, neglecting, caſt him out, and cut him off,1 Sam. 1 8. and an Amalekite had a hand in his death, or hee braggingly belyed himſelfe: yea, if he had done it fully, he had ſaved the burning of Ziglag, avoided much miſchief and miſery, 1 Sam 30.ſpared Davids pains in the Caſe, and what hee faild in is recorded as a good worke, of the ſons of Simeon, that they kild the reſt of the Amalekites, and dwelt in their rooms, and fat paſtures, did not leave a good land to them, and ſeek ſubſiſtence in the Wilderneſſe, but beat them out as intrenching, incroching intruders. Well,1 Chron. 4. the Prophet Samuel from God, and the Witch of Endor from the Devil, did both tell Saul that this was his ruine.
The advice and Counſell that I would give to you upon this practick Concluſion is,Counſell. that being you ex profeſſo are the guard of good Laws, have the permiſſion and approbation of the State, for a ſchool of war, are the Chief Legionaries of this royall City, have or ought to have all privileges and accommodations, for exerciſe of arms,Pani…ral. de … Occid. nalis Imp… c. 20. as the old ruling Romans, when they were in ſtatu pacato, their Empire at the higheſt pitch, and had done with enlargment of Dominion, they gave more privileges to the armed ſchools, then to the ſchools of Peace: Let me deſire you to make theſe inquiries.
Firſt, ſee if you have not ſuch condition'd Enemies.
Secondly, Whether there be not ſuch Records, and Acts of State entred againſt them.
Thirdly, if there be not reaſon to petition the execution of them.
Fourthly, whether you be not to be blamed for forgetting Amaleck. Deal clearly, and lay theſe conſiderations cloſe, it will be your wiſdom and your ſafety.
Firſt conſider if you, and all that are Iſraelites, in whom is no guile, have not ſuch blood-thirſty, and deceitfull Enemies, that ſhould not live out halfe their dayes; Let us ſpeake out, they are the Ieſuites, and the Ieſuited faction, with their adherents, for they are of our kindred in Religion, by extraction a Baſtard brood, that when wee came out of Egypt myſticall, they ſmote the hindmoſt, yea they have tryed all wayes to ruine Church and State, by Treaſons, Rebellions, Invaſions, Diviſions, Civill wars at this time, are a fruit of their faction, fomēted from cunning and myſticall hatred, they have been the Abettors and plotters, the great Sticklers in all the Diſturbances of the Weſterne World. Ever ſince the Spaniſh ſword-man Loiola left the Leaguer, clapt himſelfe up in a Cloyſter, lapt in a gowne, all the deſtructive deſignes that have caſt Chriſtendome into confuſion, have bin hatcht under the covert and cunning of a Canonick weed; Theſe men love alwayes to fiſh in troubled waters, and have blotted out Beati pacifici out of their Latine Liturgie: where they ſet their foote, and ſettle their ſociety, Commonly they ſhake the peace, the Liberty and the Religion of the Countrey; honeſt men come thin, all their actions publike merit to be writ in Rubrick, not as of Saints, but as of ſanguinary men who worke any way, by a Sicilian Veſpers, or Pariſian Matins, and in the name of Ieſus doe the worke of Iudas; ſo that a man cannot tell whether their Trentiſh tyranny, and treachery, taſte more of the new Roman Catholike or the old Roman Politick, ſure they conclude of us, that the ſureſt and ſhorteſt way to make us of their new Religion is firſt to make us of none, and ſo pitch downe principles of Atheiſme, as men mad with reaſon, in ſtead of being Maſters of it, and as they are Enemies of Grace, ſo they are Haters of peace, and worke againſt conſcience as the Enemies of mankind.
Secondly conſider if we have not Ordinances of State and Penall Proviſo's, againſt this factious fraternity, which were good and wholſome, and a work of neceſſity, which were not made againſt them for their meere Religion, as it reſts in opinion, but as their doctrine doth ingage them to Antichriſtian, Rebellious practiſes, that ruine by undermining Church and State if they keepe cloſe to the practicke Principles of their moderne Monkery: as to inſtance, was it not a neceſſary Law and full of reaſon, to deny thoſe men the freedome of their countrey, that plead exemption from the Lawes, and condemne them, that they may ſerve a forrein falſe friend, and live in theſe Dominions, and yet his ſubjects. Yea it wel deſerved to be Capitall puniſhment, if they offered to enter againſt this Proſcription, and indeed, they have met with this meaſure, in all well tempered ſtates in times when they were well awake, and aware; as conſider in France, the Ordinances, Arreſts, Requeſts, Decrees, Remonſtrances, Advertiſements, Defences, and Reſolutions of the Councell of State, the Parliaments, Vniverſities, and the whole Clergy. See the Proteſts, and State-Edicts of Polonia, the Reſtrictions, Deliberations, Proſcriptions, and Clauſes Conſervative of the ſtate of Venice, and Vniverſity of Padua; Now if this Society was upon judgment diſcarded in theſe States, of their own religion, (when they were not ruled by their Papaline faction) as common Enemies of humane ſociety, ſure our Laws have much more reaſon to be laid on with more load to aſſure our ſafety being in greater danger.
Thirdly, paſſe and conſider, whether there be not the ſame, and much more reaſon to continue, and petition the execution of them, tot vigiliis conceſſa & promulgata, we ſhould be tender of diſparaging, or diſuſage. If they be not to be executed, then wee are not the ſame Chriſtian men, or they are not the ſame Inſtruments, and Enemies: But wee profeſſe our ſelves Proteſtants, and they Proteſt us for Hereticks, and therefore we are no further ſafe, then they are cut ſhort in power, or follow and fall in with their admonitions: which are to tolerate them ſo far to advance, as that they will not at laſt ſuffer us to ſubſiſt.… 1610 … p. 11. See Bellarmines adviſe to King Iames of peaceable memory. Si ſecurus vitae ſuae velit regnare ſmat Catholicos frui religione. If this be their counſell, the doing otherwiſe is dangerous: and therefore all that conceive mitigation, or connivence, ſafe or ſeaſonable, are very much, miſerably, and miſchievouſly miſtaken. Let us keep our ſelves as far as we can from Popery; for they are reſolved, upon reaſons of ſtate, never to come near us: they have always the ſame Ends, but go ſeverall ways to work. Complying is of a Confounding nature with theſe men whoſe Counſels admit no medium, nor moderation; they are reſolved to make good a defection by a faction, expect not their favour, truſt not their Faith, if they can but change their Fortune; yet they will be ſo wiſe, not to offend, till they can confound. Let us take a tranſitory view what they and their adherents work at this time, and you will ſay, not only old Laws, but even new ones, need be made, and executed upon them. Look not about you in theſe Caſes, but above you; It is a better bargain to be eaten by a Lion, then by Vermin. Enquire who they be, that breed ill bloud betwixt the King and his people, that have puld ſo hard, to draw a Civill ſword to the breaking of the happy Vnion of theſe Kingdomes, which hitherto have beene able to bid the World doe, as they would be done to. Believe it they go Antichriſtian ways by the Emperours favour to ruine the Empire; And King IAMES wiſhes woe to them that durſt divide the weale of the King, His Speech in Parliament 16…9.from the weale of the Kingdome.
Where they cannot move ſedition among the people, againſt their Prince, to make Conqueſts eaſie, there they will work any way, to provoke the Prince againſt the people, they will joyne with any party, to ruine the whole; ſet Kingdomes together, and beat them ſingle, when they are poore, and paſſive; they deal with us, yea, with the beſt in the State,Heſt. 3. as Haman the Amalekite did with Mordecay, ſuppreſſe all their good ſervice, tho it be upon record; they will be the only good ſubjects and ſeeke to caſt all into an ill caſe, that they may make themſelves neceſſary by engaging the publike power, to ſerve their ends and intereſts; Call other men Traitors, when they themſelves are the rankeſt Rebels; render religious Chriſtians as ill affected civill ſubjects: and revile the wiſdome, conſcience, and repreſentation of a State in Parliament, as a Faction, a Combination, a pack of Puritans; but wee hope before long, the word Puritan ſhall prove a good name, when ſome of theirs may degenerate. This party are they that have taught the Princes of Chriſtendome Principles of tyranny and then accuſe Religion for breeding ſeeds of Rebellion.
Fourthly, Conſider, whether we be not to be blamed, for forgetting Amaleck. Take theſe ſeverall ſubordinate wayes, to conſider whether you remember them or not: and let no man ſay, I might have ſhewed more moderation & diſcretion to come off at large, fair, and afar off; active circumſpection is to be praid for in the Caſe; but for this omiſſive, dimme, diſſembling Neuter, negative good manners, I underſtand it not, but as the fault, and folly of the times: and yet I ſhall keep within my bounds; though theſe Ieſuits ſtatizing would call us out of our ſtation, to ſtudie Politicks, if it be but to countermine them, who are ſo devoted to Court, with ſuch ſecular ſolicitude; as if they were able to prove, there were no other Heaven; and I ſhall plead for peace, if it be but becauſe ſome of the Clergy are charged, as the Authors of the War.
Firſt, Conſider if you have remembred to pray againſt Amaleck, and ſo hold up the Magiſtrates hands that they may fall under a Civill ſword; theſe men would ſurely hold you off from comming to God, that urge it ſo odiouſly, as an intolerable inſolency, to petition the King againſt thoſe grievances, that ariſe from their falſe ſuggeſtions: whereby the wiſeſt of Princes may be miſinformed, though they cannot be miſtaken; (as I heard his Majeſty ſay in the Caſe) who graciouſly invites to petition. Tis a moſt prodigious courſe, to deny that to the beſt, which was never denied to the worſt of men, in the worſt times, which is leave to petition. That wee ſhould undergo the worſt of government, under the beſt of Princes, is the depth of miſery, and therefore pray that God would remember their iniquities that have thus reacht to Heaven.Rev. 18.
Secondly, Conſider if you doe not contradict, and croſſe your own prayers, by preſuming to ſave, ſome of the fatteſt for a ſacrifice, to comply withall; Mercy to theſe upon affection, is cruelty to your ſelves upon judgment. David gave a command, upon private, paternall affection, to ſpare Abſolom; and grieved beyond meaſure, upon the ſame grounds, when he was cut off; and therefore Ioab did well and wiſely (and David had reaſon to take it well in coole blood) as to take off an evill inſtrument, ſo alſo reſpectively to remember the King, that he was miſtaken in his paſſion, when the State had loſt ſo great an Enemy. Samuel was no cruell man, and yet he was reſolved, to hew Agag in pieces: If wee ſhew pity becauſe they come with halters about their necks, they will ſoon ſhift them, and ſtrangle us.
Thirdly, Conſider what you poſitively performe againſt them, to ſecond, and give ſucceſſe to your prayers: I ſpeake not that meere private men, ſhould upon meer perſonall malice, proſecute the particular perſons of any Romiſh Recuſants, that are otherwiſe Civill ſubjects, and diſturbe not the State: or that a Prince ſhould publikely, and ſolemnly invade, only to ſettle Religion, or extirpate Hereſie, without the mixture of Civill Titles; that is the Ieſuits Divinity, and I wiſh them enough of it: but this is it I would have you doe, Take care that Apoſtates be ſeverely puniſhed, & thoſe that ſeduce them, or lay grounds for it: for if theſe Amalekites, that were external Enemies, far from home, were to be remembred, and ruined, how are ours to be regarded, that are in the Common-wealth, but not of it, but fully and fouly againſt it, knotted into a great party, tied in dependance to the greateſt forrein Enemy. Theſe men ſtrike at Church and State at a blow, being the anchor of the State is Religion, which if ſhaken, the State will float; and for fundamentall Laws they pull them up, that they may pull us down; and that againſt the originall of all Civill government. For when by common conſent, men fell upon a Regiment, and at firſt permitted all, to the wiſdome and diſcretion of Governours, choſen by themſelves, Hooker l. 1.and after by experience found, the remedy in this Courſe,Numb. 10. worſe then the diſeaſe; they ſaw, I ſay, to live by one mans will, was the ground of all mens miſery: then they were conſtrained to Come to Laws, (not only admit a Councell for aſſiſtance:) and whoſoever infringes ſuch Laws, is an abſolute, inſolent Enemy of the Common good. But you will ſtill demand of me what you muſt doe? I can better tell you what you muſt not ſuffer, them to do.
And let no inſolent, obnoxious Diſturber, or Innovatour in Church or State, ſay that theſe Diſcourſes muſt not be brookt. I muſt tell them, tis true, that in peaceable times, when all paſſe calmely along, the Locrians Law was of force: but in ſtatu perturbato, & quaſi in maligno poſito, in a Common and Calling Calamity (as Religion is a Calling Cauſe) advice is welcome from any hand, being there is a tacit conſent of States, in extraordinary times, to allow extraordinary undertakings; witneſs on the wrong ſide, their Quotidian, double-tertian, diſtemperd projects, which depend, like ſickmens Dreams: they that like not this, I wiſh they mean no worſe; for that State that can bear a Civill War, may very well away with Civill Memento's, to prevent it. Take therefore theſe Conſiderations, which I deſire to lay down, with Cautions reſtrictive, and directive, to keep within the compaſſe of obedience, and the peace of Church and State, which I leave to wiſe and active men to accommodate.
This was delivered the day after the Lords Petition.Firſt, conſider, that in an Exigent, and unexpected turn of State, perniciouſly procured by theſe Britiſh malekites: there are Certain ways to come to the King for relief and redreſs, which at other times are not allowable, ſee it in Heſters Caſe, Though it be not according to Law (ſays ſhee) yet if you will faſt and pray, I will go to the King, whatever come of it. Indicious Biſhop Bilſon ſpeaks cloſe in the Caſe, and I dare not condemne him, neither need I, being allowed by the State, when this Monarchie was in a moſt Majeſtick height.
Secondly, conſider that when a party by power breaks the Laws of the Land, that they may break the Laws of God, and thereby force you to goe along as their friends, or put you to make a ſtand, and ſo conclude you the States Enemies, where the Laws of the Land are thus by them made too ſhort for your ſecurity, the Laws of Nations come in for reliefe, till it can be otherwiſe provided: for twas never intended by Law-makers, to lay them on, with ſo rigid a will, but that ſtill, ſalus populi ſhould be ſola, & ſuprema lex; and no State did ever intend, to caſt it ſelfe into a deſperate Caſe, by good Laws; ſo that as for the good of the perſon of a Prince, there are not only allowed, jura dominationis, but alſo arcana dominationis: ſo for the ſafety of the body of the State, there are arcana, Latitudes allowed for ſecurity; eſpecially when the Enemies (who are not true Inſtruments but Tools of State, Dominationum Proviſores, Purveyers of uſurpation, that worke through Alps, or Conſcience) have concluded, they loſe not reputation, nor abuſe Religion, if they get their Ends: In ſuch a Caſe Rationall Grotius is cleer,… belli & … 40. that in graviſsimo & certiſsimo diſcrimine, lex de non reſiſtendo, non obligat; but I hope he meant it tenderly.
Thirdly, conſider that the States of a Kingdome, either actually aſſembled in a repreſentative body, or virtually concurring in a common reſolution, Conſiliarii nati ratione nobilitatis licet non ratione officii Ordinari.for the common good, and only hindred from aſſembling by the common Enemy; it is affirmed, by the greateſt Aſſertors of Regall Royalty, that they may goe very far, before they can be counted Rebels, or be miſtaken. 'Twas fooliſh, churliſh Nabals judgment,1 Sam. 25. that cald David, & his Company Runnagates, when wiſe Abigail, tho ſhee ſubmitted to Saul, as her King, yet acknowledged David to fight the Lords battails.
Fourthly, Conſider, and make a reall difference betwixt the Chriſtians ſuffering with prayers and tears in the Primitive Church, under Heatheniſh Emperours, when their Religion was not ſo much as tolerated, but condemned by the Laws of the Empire,Biſhop of Durham Sermon before the King 1639. and the ſufferings of State, where the Religion is Lex terrae, ſetled and protected by the Civil Laws and power, and all caution, that can be given to aſſure it, and affronted by a ſchiſmatical faction, not ſo much tolerated, but proteſted, and condemned, Idolatrous and Antichriſtian, and cannot conſiſt, with the ſtanding of the ſtate. The thus appearing not for a popular but a politick liberty, muſt be interpreted by clemencie, (a vertue of as much policie as piety in a Prince) as ſerious Seneca, Senec de Clement. l. 2. c. 7.Clementia hoſtes dimittit ſalvos, aliquando laudatos, ſi honeſtis cauſis, pro fide, pro foedere vel pro libertate: Be wiſe, be reſolute for you have Amalekites amongſt you.
At a Committee of the Honourable the Commons Houſe of Parliament, It is ordered that this Sermon be publiſhed in print.
Sir Edward Dering Knight and Baronet.
End of the text · Calybute Downing, Sermon Preached 1 September 1640 (1641)