Popery Anatomized, Dedication
TO THE RIGHT EXCELLENT AND MIGHTY PRINCE, JAMES THE VI. KING OF SCOTLAND, &c. Grace and Peace be multiplied.
I Hope it ſhal not be accounted preſumption (moſt Noble Prince) to offer to your Majesty, the firſt fruits of theſe my ſimple and rude labors, ſeeing the cauſe is JESƲS CHRISTS, that KING of Kings, and LORD of glory, which is here defended, even the everlaſting truth of GOD, againſt the venimous ſtings of one of the Locuſts, Rev. 9.3. of that Antichriſtian Kingdom. The right whereof doth moſt juſtly belong to your Majeſty, both in reſpect of theſe rare and ſingular gifts of knowledge and underſtanding, which the LORD hath vouchſafed upon your Majeſty, in ſuch a plentiful meaſure, that your ſubjects do acknowledge it at home, and ſtrangers do admire it, and commend it abroad: Whereby you are not only able to render a reaſon of that Faith which is in you, 1. Pet. 3.15. but alſo able to ſtop the mouth of the adverſary, Tit. 1.9. and convict the gain-ſayer whatſoever, by that word of truth, 2. Tim. 3.5. Wherewith your Majeſty hath been brought up from your very infancy: So that all the wiſe men of Babel (I mean the Clergy of that Roman Harlot) is not able to reſiſt the mouth and wiſdom which the Lord hath given to your Majeſty. And alſo in reſpect of that ſupereminent power (as the Apoſtle calls it, Rom. 13.1.) whereby as you are most able, ſo are you most obliged to maintain his truth, propagat his Kingdom, and nowriſh his own Spouſe, which he hath purchaſed to himſelf by his own blood, Acts 20.28. by the breaſts of your Majeſties government; as it was promiſed of old, That his Spouſe ſhould ſuck the breaſt of Kings, Eſa. 60.16. So, who is more obliged, then ye, Sir? Who ſo ſufficient and able every way to maintain it, as ye, Sir? Your knowledge binds you: Your profeſſion binds you: Your ſoveraign authority, as ye are a King in Iſrael, binds you. For as the wiſest King that ever was, hath ſaid, and left it in writ: or rather that King of Kings, in him, and by him, Princes reign by me, Prov. 8.15. Ye hold your Kingdom of him, Sir, and must lay down your Crown at his feet, and must ſtand up and give a reckoning of the government of his Kingdom, of the maintenance of his Truth, & of the nowriſhing his Spouſe, in that day. Your knowledge, Sir, is able to juſtifie it, foreign: your ſoveraign authority able to defend it, foreign. Ye have received that two-edged ſword of Gods Spirit in your mouth, able to wound, Heb. 4.12. yea to conſume that man of ſin, and ſon of perdition. Ye have received that ſword of juſtice and judgement, Rom. 13.4. in your hands; able to deſtroy betimes all the wicked of your Kingdom; and to root out from the city of the Lord, all the workers of iniquity, Pſal. 101.8. Ye know, Sir, the abomination of Babel, Rev. 17.4.5. that as it is ſaid of the vertuous woman, Many women have done vertuouſly, but thou ſurmounts them all, Prov. 31.26. So the contrary may be ſaid of her; Many hereticks have taught erroneouſly, and worſhipped and wrought abominably; but the whoor of Babel, Rev. 17.1. the Church of Rome, in hereſie, in abomination, in idolatry, hath ſurmounted them all, that ever went before her, or ever ſhal come after her. Many beaſts have ſpoken blaſphemouſly, Rev. 13.1.3.6. but that ſecond beaſt that hath two horns like the Lamb, Rev. 13. & 16.13.14. & 17.3.4.5.6. & 18.24. ſurmounteth them all in blaſphemy, tyranny, cruelty, and abominable idolatry, deſtroying and making merchandiſe of the ſouls of men and women. Other hereſies did but ſubvert ſome fundamental points of Religion, but the Church of Rome hath ſubverted them all almoſt. Of other hereſies, ſome was but against the Godhead of Chriſt, other ſome againſt his manhood, other ſome againſt his offices and benefits, or ſome one head or other: But the doctrine of the Church of Rome, is againſt them all. Injurious to his Godhead, in making him, not only inferior to the Father, in teaching that he is not foreign; but alſo inferior to the very creatures, in praying to Mary to cōmand her Son, Jure Matris impera Redemptori: as I heard your Majeſty moſt ſolidly prove, and ſo worſe then the Arrians. Injurious to his manhood, to all his offices, his benefits, and all the means, inward and outward, of the knowing and applying of him. And laſt of all, injurious to his ſoveraign glory, in communicating it to ſtocks and ſtones, a piece of bread, bones and aſhes, and the skurf skarf of all things; as I hope, I have made manifeſt in this my Anſwer. So that moſt juſtly it is called, The ſpeach of the Dragon, and the doctrine of Devils, by the Spirit of God, Rev. 13.11. 1. Tim. 4. And if the profeſſion of ſuch a deviliſh doctrine be too great an evil, what would the practiſe thereof be? I mean the idolatrous Maſs, that abomination of deſolation. The miſery, alace! were too great, to ſee the people of this Countrey ſcattered like ſheep without ſhepherds, Matth. 9.36. dying that ſecond and everlaſting death, for want of the bread of life, and Goſpel of ſalvation. But this would be the miſery of miſeries, if the golden cup of Babel, full of all abominations, Rev. 17.4. ſhould be ſet to their head again, to drink the deadly poyſon of their own damnation. And certainly, if this famine of the Word of GOD, Amos 8.11.12. whereby not only two or three Cities, as the ſame Prophet ſaith, ch. 4.8. but twenty or thirty Pariſhions in ſome places, ſhould be compelled to go to one, if they were deſirous to drink the waters of life; this, I ſay, is a judgement heavy enough. But what a judgement would this be, if they were compelled to bide at home, and it were but in their own families, by that abominable Maſs, the round bread, the Gods of Babel? Surely a great many of the people of this Countrey, do not halt now between theſe two thoughts, whither GOD be the LORD, or Baal; 1. Kings 18.21. but have forſaken the LORD and his Goſpel, and in their heart deſires the opportunity to ſay to their round bread, Theſe are our Gods who have redeemed us from Hell, and theſe will we worſhip; at least ſecretly, till our ſtrength grow, and our number increaſe. The rest of the iniquities of this Land, were too great to provoke the LORD of Hosts, ſuppoſe this impiety (which the LORD forbid, for his CHRISTS ſake) be not added unto all the rest, and above all the rest. For what ſin is comparable to Idolatrie? Or what iniquity hath been ever ſo ſeverely puniſhed, as Idolatrie? A ſin that is immediatly againſt GOD, againſt CHRIST, againſt his Glory. A ſin that made 24000. of the LORDS own choſen inheritance to fall in the wilderneſs, for the golden Calf, and Baal-Peor, Exod. 32.28. Num. 25.9. A ſin that provoked the LORD in ſuch a high meaſure, that it made him deliver his own people (whom he had planted in that Land of Promiſe, and to whom he had ſworn to be their GOD) over in the hands of their enemies round about them, Judges 2.11.12.13.14.15. ſo that whitherſoever they went, the hand of the LORD was ſore againſt them. A ſin that rent the Kingdom of David aſunder, 1. Kings 11.5.11. and made ten parts of it to be given to Jeroboam the ſon of Nebat, ſuppoſe the perſon was called Jedidiah, the beloved of the LORD, 2. Sam. 12.25. And the promiſe was made unto him, that his houſe and throne ſhould ſtand for ever, 2. Sam. 7.13. And finally, a ſin that first moved the LORD to put away Iſrael from before his face: and cauſed their land to vomit them out, without all hope ever to return again: and then made his wrath ſo hot againſt Juda, 2. Chron. 36.16.17.18. 2. Kings 25.10. till there was no remedy, but the Temple, the Kings Houſe, and the houſes of all the Nobles, were burnt with fire: the Kings ſons firſt ſlain before his eyes, then his own eyes put out, himſelf bound with chains of ſteel, and he and his people carried captives to Babel, where there they remained for the ſpace of ſeventy years. Are not theſe things fallen forth as examples to us? And are they not written for our inſtruction, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1. Cor. 10.11. upon whom the ends of the world is fallen? And is not the abomination of Babel, Rev. 17.4. their idolatrous Maſs, as great abomination in the eyes of the LORD, as Milcom the abomination of the Ammonits? 1. Kings 11.5. Is it leſs Idolatrie to worſhip a golden Calf, the Gods of Egypt, or a graven ſheep Aſhtaroth, the Gods of the Sidonians, Exod. 32.4. 1. Kings 11.5. Judg. 2.13. then to worſhip a bit of bread, made of wheat, ground in the mill, baken in the oven, conjured and erected up by an idolatrous Priest, which is the God of Babel, the Church of Rome? Is there any more God-head in the one, then in the other? Hath their Idol of the Maſs any more life, feeling or moving, then the Idols of Egypt and Sidon had? And doth not the Church of Rome give as great, yea rather greater worſhip and Religion to their round bread, then Juda or Iſrael gave to their golden Calf, or to Aſhtaroth the graven ſheep: for they worſhip it as their Creator and Redeemer? And as the worſhip of the golden Calf, is called the worſhip of Devils in Moſes ſong, Deut. 32.17. ſo the Idolatry of the Church of Rome, whereof their round bread in their Maſs, is one of the principal, is called, the worſhip of Devils, Rev. 9.20. by the voyce that came from the four horns of the golden Altar. For what Church or Kingdom under heaven is there to be found, who in the time of the blaſt of the ſixth Trumpet, when that fearful Army of the Turks was looſed to overrun Chriſtendom, do worſhip Idols of gold, and ſilver, of braſs, of wood, and of ſtone, but the Church of Rome? And if the worſhip of GOD by Images, as Iſrael did in the golden Calf, which is but the break of the ſecond Command, be called the worſhip of Devils; ſhal not the worſhip of a falſe Creator and Redeemer, as they do in their Maſs, which is not only the break of the firſt Command; but alſo the treading under foot of the Son of GOD in the Goſpel, be moſt juſtly called, the worſhip of Devils? And is not the LORD as jealous of his glory now, as he was then? And hath he not ſworn, that he will not give it to another? Eſai. 42.8. And hath he not threatned as ſevere judgements againſt the Whoor of Babel, and the worſhippers of the Beaſt and his Image, and them that receive his mark openly or privatly, as ever he did againſt Juda, or Iſrael? Rev. 13.14.15.16. and 14.8.9.10.12. and 16.1.2.10.19. and 17.1.2. and 18.11.2.3.5.6.21. and 19.19.20.21. and 21.21. Did he not cauſe it to be proclaimed, by an Angel with a loud voyce, that the foundations of the earth might hear it, and tremble, that they ſhal drink of the wine of the wrath of GOD; yea, of that pure wine, powred out in the cup of his wrath, and they ſhal be tormented day and night before the holy Angels, and before the Lamb: and the ſmoke of their torment ſhal aſcend for evermore, and they ſhal have no reſt day nor night, that worſhip the Beaſt and his Image? And heard not John, him that ſate upon the Throne, the Judge of the whole earth, ſay, That Idolaters ſhal have their portion in the lake that burnes with fire and brimſtone, which is the ſecond death? And ſeeing the knowledge of our Redemption ſurmounteth the knowledge of our Creation: and the benefit of our Redemption exceeds (by many degrees) the benefit of our Creation: ſhal not the worſhip of an Idol Redeemer, and of a falſe Jeſus, as they do in their Maſs, ſurmount by many degrees, the worſhip of an Idol Creator, as Juda and Iſrael did? For the greater the light be, and the greater the mercy be that is beſtowed upon any, their ſin muſt be the greater. And as the light of the Goſpel is more glorious then the light of the Law, 2. Cor. 3.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13. ſo the Idolatry of theſe that are under the Goſpel, muſt be more abominable then the Idolatry of theſe that were under the Law. Theirs was but the deſpiſing of Moſes Law, Heb. 10.28. But this Idolatry of their Maſs, is the treading under foot of the blood of CHRIST, and ſo worthy of ſorer puniſhment, (as the Apostle ſaith; Heb. 10.29.) And ſuppoſe that the judgement were to fall but upon the committers of this ſin only, it were too great; but it would reach further to a whole Kingdom wherein it were committed, if by repentance; and execution of Juſtice, it were not prevented. For ſhal Abimelech King of Gerar, Gen. 20.9. fear the judgement of GOD upon his whole Kingdom, for one adultery only intended, and that in ignorance? And what may a whole Land then fear, for ſuch abominable Idolatry in ſo clear a light of the Goſpel? And ſhal the ten Tribes fear the wrath of GOD, Joſh. 22.21. to be kindled againſt the whole Congregation of Iſrael, for the rebellion of the other two Tribes, in ſetting up an altar to ſacrifice upon, as they thought? And what ſhould we fear then againſt this whole Land, if there were altars reared up, not to worſhip GOD on, but the Idol of Babel. And if Achans theft, Joſh. 7. ſuppoſe both the perſon and the ſin was unknown; yea, ſuppoſe there was no ſuſpicion, neither of the one nor of the other, ſpoyled all Iſrael of GODS preſence, made them fall before their enemies, and made the LORD refuſe to be in the midſt of them, unleſs the ſin and perſon was tryed and ſearched, and the Anathema taken away? And would not Babels Idolatry be much more effectual to ſpoyl all the Land, if it were defiled therewith, of GODS preſence; to make us fall before our enemies, and to make the LORD to depart from us, ſuppoſe it were but in one perſon, ſeeing the ſin is more odious in the LORDS eyes, our light greater, and we more obliged then they were? And ſuppoſe that this abomination ſhould be but in privat families, yet it is a fretting canker, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 2. Tim. 2.17. that when it hath infected a member of the body, it will infect the reſt, if it be not prevented by cutting off the festered member. And the Apostle ſaith, 1. Cor. 5.6. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. And experience hath taught, that by proceſs of time, a little leck hath ſunk a great ſhip: and one perſon infected with the peſtilence, hath infected a whole Kingdom. The firſt Idolatrie of the land of Canaan, began with Teraphim Jehovae, ſilver ſanctified to the LORD, to be an Image, Jud. 17.5.3. but afterward it grew up to the worſhip of Baal and Aſhtaroth, ch. 2.13. It was in the beginning but in one only family, the family of Micah, ch. 17.1. but in proceſs of time, it paſſed from that family to the Tribe of Dan, ch. 18. and from that Tribe to all the reſt of the Tribes, ch. 2.13.14. till at the last all Iſrael ſinned, and did that which was evil in the ſight of the LORD. So there is no question, Sir, if your Majesty put not to your hand, as you have begun to do, it will get foot in this Land, and it would paſs from families to Tribes, from privat houſes to Temples, from the worſhip of the round bread, to the worſhip of ſtocks and ſtones: and ſo by one degree to another, till it have made all guilty; what by infecting, what by communicating with their ſins, and then bring the fearful vengeance of GOD upon all. And ſuppoſe, Sir, that you have not need to be taught of any; for that light and underſtanding wherewith the LORD hath anointed you, in ſo great a meaſure beyond many, doth teach you all things: and your Majeſty hath laid ſo ſure foundation of maintenance, both of Juſtice and Religion within your Land, and hath begun ſo ſubſtantially to proſecute the ſame (for the which, from our hearts we render glory and praiſe to GOD.) So that all further exhortation of your Majeſty, would ſeem to be ſuperfluous: Yet I muſt borrow leave at your Majeſty, to be bold, with all humbleneſs of mind, and reverence of heart, to GOD, and to your Majeſty, to beſeech you, by the price of JESUS CHRIST your LORD, to ſtirr up the bowels of your compaſſion over this deſolat Countrey: For upon whom are the eyes of all Iſrael, 1. Kings 3.20. but upon you, Sir? And what King is there under Heaven, under whoſe Government the Goſpel hath had ſo free a paſſage, and the Church of GOD hath had …ch…nrity and liberty, in ſuch peace, for ſo long a … a whole Kingdom, without Hereſie or Schiſm, … under your Majesties Government? So that we were both ungrate to GOD, and to you, Sir, if with all thankſgiving we did not acknowledge it. Take therefore for examples theſe worthy Kings, who have received a good report in the Word of the LORD; and now reſting from their labors, have received that incorruptible Crown of glory. Put on their affections, Sir, and follow their actions, that your report here, and Crown hereafter, may be equal, or rather above theirs. Let your heart melt, Sir, with good Joſias, 2. Kings 22.19. not for our fathers tranſgreſſions, as he did; but for our own ſins, and the ſins of this Land, Ezek. 9.4. For GOD regarded not the time of their ignorance, Acts 17.30.31. Rom. 2.16. when the Goſpel ſhined not; but now ſince that light is broken forth, he admoniſheth all men to repent, becauſe he hath ſet a day (which cannot be far off) wherein he will judge every one by the Man CHRIST JESUS, according to his Goſpel. And if that great Angel had not deſcended unto us, with that little Book open in his right hand, Rev. 10.1.2. and the Land had not been once purged of Idolatry, we ſhould not have ſinned; but now we have no cloke for our ſin, John 15.21.24. Stir up your anger with Moſes; Sir, who ſuppoſe he was the meekeſt man upon the face of the whole earth, Num. 12.3. yet when he ſaw the golden Calf, his anger was kindled, Exod. 32.19. that he brake the Tables of ſtone, the LORDS own work and writ, burnt the Calf in the fire, br…yed it in powder, ſcattered it on the waters, and made the people to drink thereof. Follow the example of good Jehoſaphat, Sir, who fought the LORD his GOD, 2. Chron. 27.4.20. walked in his precepts, lifted up his heart to the wayes of the LORD, purged his land of Idolatrie: And firſt ſent Levits with his own Princes to teach all the Cities of his Kingdom the Law of the LORD: and after being admoniſhed by the Prophet, for helping of the wicked, and loving them who hated the LORD, (ſuppoſe he was his neighbor King, joyned in affinity with him) he ſo repented, that he went from the one end of his Kingdom to the other; even from Beerſheba to mount Ephraim, and brought his people to the LORD their GOD, and eſtabliſhed Religion and Juſtice in all the Cities of his Kingdom; and therefore the LORD was with him: he proſpered, and had riches and honor in abundance. What joy of heart, Sir, brought Ezechias to the hearts of all the godly, as well indwellers as ſtrangers, when he purged his land of Idolatrie, 2. Chron. 29. and 30.31. brake the brazen Serpent which the people had abuſed, opened the doors of the Temple which were ſhut up, reſtored the worſhip of GOD, ſent meſſengers with letters throughout all Iſrael, to convert them to the LORD their GOD: reſtored the Prieſts and Levites in their Miniſtery, as the LORD had commanded by his Prophets: ſpake to their hearts, ſtrengthened them in their offices, provided for their maintenance, that they might be encouraged in the Law of the LORD? Follow theſe examples, Sir: ſend Paſtors throughout all the borders of your Kingdom, to teach your ſubjects the Law of their LORD, and the Goſpel of their ſalvation: eſtabliſh Religion and Juſtice in all the Cities of your Kingdom. Cauſe the waters of life to run from the heart of your Countrey unto the borders thereof, that publickly and privatly, the LORD may be but one, and his Name one, and he may be a ſoveraign King in all your Land, as it was propheſied and promiſed, Zech. 14.8.6. Eſtabliſh Paſtors in all your Kingdom: ſtrengthen them in their offices, and ſpeak to their hearts. Provide for their maintenance, that they be not diſtracted; but may be encouraged in the Law of their GOD, and in the execution of their Miniſtery. And when it is reported to your Majeſty, or ye hear of any, be they many, or be they few; be they man, or be they wife; be it publickly, or be it ſecretly, in any of the Cities or parts in your Majeſties Kingdom, that they have gone out to entiſe others to Idolatry, or have committed Idolatry themſelves, ye try it, ſearch it, & ſeek it out moſt diligently, for ſo the LORD hath moſt ſtraitly commanded. And if it be true and certain that ſuch abomination is done in your Kingdom, Take evil out of Iſrael, that he may have mercy on us, and multiply his bleſſings to us. And then may ye, Sir, (having done all theſe things) take GOD to record, that you are clean from the blood of all your people; becauſe you have kept no mean back from them which your calling craved; but hath cauſed the whole counſel of GOD to be ſhewed to them: ſo that if they periſh, their own blood may be upon their own heads. And then ſhal forrain Nations and ſtrangers ſay of you, Sir, as Hiram, and the Queen of Sheba ſaid of Solomon, 1. Kings 5.7. and 10.8. Bleſſed be the LORD GOD who hath ſet ſuch a wiſe and underſtanding Prince over Scotland, to build his Church, and to exerciſe Juſtice and judgement there: It was for the love the LORD had to his Church there, that he ſet ſuch a wiſe and underſtanding Prince over them. Yea, the generations to come, Pſal. 78.4. ſhal tell to their children, and their childrens children, the great work of the LORD which he hath done by you, Sir, in this Land. I have heard your Majeſty gravely protest, before GOD, in two General Aſſemblies, that it was one of your Majeſties greateſt deſires; and ye were even, as it were, ambitious of that work, to plant every Parochin within your Kingdom with a Paſtor: that the posterities to come, might ſay, King JAMES the ſixth hath done ſuch a notable work in his days. Confirm your ſelf, Sir, in that purpoſe: For ye know, Sir, who hath ſaid, I will honor them that honor me. There is no question, Sir, and I ſpeak with confidence, if ye honor him in this Kingdom, and be faithful to him in the Government of it, he ſhal honor you; not only by making you to reign in that everlaſting Kingdom; but alſo by lifting you up to be Ruler over mo Kingdoms here. The LORD anoynted David King over all Iſrael, yet he gave not the poſſeſſion of it all at once after the death of Saul, but firſt proved him with the Government of one Tribe ſeven years and an half: and then finding him faithful over that, he placed him Ruler over all the reſt, and eſtabliſhed all Iſrael in his hand. So there is no queſtion, and I am ſure of it, if ye honor the LORD to the uttermoſt of your power, in the Government of this Kingdom, and give him a proof of your fidelity therein: that as he hath given you the undoubted right by birth, to be a King over mo Kingdoms then this, ſo ſhal he make you Ruler of them, and establiſh them in your hands. Only, Sir, Be ye ſtrong and couragious to do with all diligence, as the LORD hath commanded you in his Word, Joſh. 1.6.7.8.9. and as ye ſee theſe faithful Kings have done before you. Decline neither to the right hand, nor to the left; and then aſſuredly I dare promiſe you, in the Name of the LORD, he ſhal not leave you, nor forſake you all your days, and none ſhal be able to ſtand before your face. And as he was with Joſua and David, ſo ſhal he be with you. For the LORD is true who hath promiſed, & then ſhalt thou proſper in all thy ways. And conſider upon the other part, who ever proſpered unto the end, but theſe that walked as the LORD had commanded. For true is that which the LORD ſpake by his Prophet to Aſa; He is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye ſeek him, he will be found; but if ye will forſake him, he will forſake you, 2. Chron. 1.4.2. Was the LORD any longer with Saul, Joaſh, Amatzia, Uzzia, all Kings of Juda, then they were with him? No, no: but from time they forſook him, he forſook them. Becauſe Saul deſpiſed the word of the LORD, in ſparing whom he ſhould not have ſpared, the LORD deſpiſed him from being King over Iſrael, and the Spirit of the LORD forſook him, 1. Sam. 15.23. and 16.15. Becauſe Joaſh forſook the LORD, 2. Chron. 24.20. in permitting Idolatrie, at the requeſt of his Princes, the LORD forſook him and his Kingdom, and delivered them into the hands of their enemies. Becauſe Amatzia did evil, and obeyed not the counſel of the Prophet, 2. Chron. 5.16. when he admoniſhed him, the LORD determined to deſtroy him. Ʋzzia, all the dayes that he ſought the LORD, the LORD proſpered him, 2. Chron. 26.5.16.18. but from time he lifted up himſelf, to corrupt himſelf, & to treſpaſs againſt the LORD his GOD, in paſſing the limits of his calling, and invading the Prieſts office, he had no honor of the LORD, but was ſmitten with leproſie. But let all theſe things be far from your Majesty, ſince you ſee what every one of theſe have done to Kings, and Kingdoms before you: let your heart be conſtant before the LORD your GOD, all the dayes of your life, that priores & poſteriores, 2. Chron. 25.26. be never registrat of your Majeſty, as it was of them; neither in the Books of the LORDS Commentary before him, neither in the Chronicles of the Kings of Scotland; but that both your former and latter may be that which is good and right in the eyes of the LORD. That both the LORD may give this teſtimony to your own conſcience, and to the conſcience of all his children, that he gave of David, I have found you a man according to mine own heart, that will do all my will. And alſo, that it may be written of your Majesty in the Chronicles of the Kings of Scotland, as it was written of David, Ezechias, Joſias, in the Chronicles of the Kings of Juda, That King JAMES the ſixth, his heart was perfect toward the LORD his GOD all his dayes, and his Government was in ſuch Peace and Justice, that after him there was none like him of all the Kings of Scotland: Neither was there any ſuch before him, who did cleave unto the LORD his GOD, with all his heart, and followed all his Commandments, and neither declined to the right hand, nor to the left. Now the LORD grant to your Majesty, that ye may find this favor in his eyes, for his CHRISTS ſake. I have now taken this boldneſs, to offer theſe my labors unto your Majeſty, as a teſtimony of my moſt humble and loyal heart unto your Majeſty, as GOD the ſearcher of the heart knows. Your Majeſty did exceedingly encourage me, to let it go forth unto the light; what by your Majeſties moſt gracious acceptation of mine endeavor, and moſt favorable cenſure, and approbation of my labors: what by your Majeſties humane counſel and adviſe, confirmed by your Majeſties Priviledge and authority to me to publiſh the ſame. Such was Your Majeſties humanity to me, not only in theſe, but in all your actions, both publick and privat, with all your ſubjects, of whatſoever rank or degree. Ye ſhew ſuch humanity and affability, that that ſaying of Trajanus the Emperor, That a Prince ſhould behave himſelf ſo to his ſubjects, as he would have them to do to him, if he were a privat man, is verified in you, Sir; wherein certainly ye need not to give place to any of whatſoever rank: You expreſs it ſo lively in all your actions, and I have found it for my own part by experience. So that Your Majeſty hath often cauſed me to remember that notable ſaying of Titus that Roman Emperor, A ſubject ſhould never go ſad-hearted from the ſpeech of his Prince. The which experience makes me to conceive hope, that Your Majeſty will pardon this my boldneſs, will accept in good part this my ſmal mite. I therefore moſt humbly deſire Your Majeſty to accept it, as from Your Majeſties moſt humble obedient ſervant and ſubject. For whoſe peace and proſperity, I am always earneſt with the LORD. Now the GOD of all Peace, even that KING of Kings, powr all light and grace in all abundance, more and more, upon Your Majeſty; and ſo root and ground your heart in JESUS CHRIST, that ye may honor him more and more in your life and calling here, that ye may be honored of him again, both in this life, and in that day, with immortal and everlaſting glory. Amen.
From Air the 18. of November 1602. Your Majesties moſt humble ſubject, M. JOHN WELSCH.