King Charles the Second, Sermon
ENGLANDS BEATITUDE
Eccleſ. 10. 17.
Bleſſed art thou, O Land, when thy King is the ſons of Nobles, and thy Princes eat in due ſeaſon, for ſtrength, and not for drnnkenneſſe.
IT is the Deſire of aPet Lom. ſent. i…b. 4. Diſtin. 49. Aquin. ſum. 12. q. 2. ar. 7. … in Ho…en….all Men to be bleſſed, but not the endeavours. And it is the endeavour of ſome to be bleſſed, but not by light means. And ſome be bleſſed without their endeavors, but will not rightly underſtand it. God bleſſes them, as he bleſſes all the Land, but they can hardly deem it a bleſſing, or dain to bleſſe him for it, becauſe not what their fanatick Croſſe-grain'd ſouls deſired. Their minds were to bleſſe themſelves with that National …rſe, the want of a King. But God hath croſſed their minds with a National bleſſe, even this of my Text. And bleſſed be his Name for ever. Let all that love the Lord ſay ſo, though others will … We are bound to bleſſe the Lord, and rejoyce in his mercy, …ugh ſome repine and pine away to ſee God truly good to this ou… …rael. We can do no leſſe, to prove …ur ſelves true ſons of the …, and loyal ſubjects. Nor they much more to proclaim themſelves right ſons of Belial, very Malignants, whoſe eyes are aDeut. 13. 13. a Chron. 13. 7. Matth. 20. 15. Prov. 25. 11. Ar. Mont. Interpr.therefore evil, becauſe that God is good to England, and hath bleſſed it according to this Text, Bleſſed art thou, O Land, when thy King, &c.
Verbum dictum ſuper rotis ſuis, as it is in the ſacred Adage, … word in due ſeaſon, and fit to ſeaſon this, or any Aſſembly, a ſingle aſſertion with a double condition. Bleſſed art thou, O Land, that's the aſſertion: when thy King is the ſon of Nobles there's the firſt condition, And thy Princes eat in due ſeaſon, for ſtrength, and not for drunkenneſſe, there's the ſecond. On theſe two conditions hangs all the certainty of the aſſertion, and to aſcertain the Land to be bleſſed, we need but aſcertain theſe two conditions of a bleſſed Land, when it may be truly ſaid, as truly it may, Rex tuus natus clariſſimis: Thy King i… the ſon of Nobles, and thy Princes eat in due ſeaſon, for ſtrength, and not for drunkenneſſe. It may as truly be ſaid, beata te… bleſſed art thou, O Land, Any Land may be ſo ſtiled, that i… ſo conditioned, and ſo may England now as well as any. I… ſtead of …ata terra, bleſſed art thou, O Land, it may be ſaid, beata Britannia, bleſſed art thou, O England, Thy King is th… ſon of Nobles, &c.
But before I diſcuſſe theſe conditions, that ſpeak a Lan… bleſsed, let me diſcloſe the bleſsedneſs beſpoken on the… conditions. Beataterra, the ſenſe of beata is hinted by terr… A bleſsed Land, the foreign, bleſſed of it ſelf is foreign, an… could it have ſtood by it ſelf, had been dubious, but bei… adjected to the Subſtantive Land, hath ſingled out ſome certain ſignificance, and can import none other Beati…de, b… what befits a Land, bleſſed art thou, O Land, figuratively ſpoken, locus pro incolis, the Land for the Inhabitants, by a Mel… nymy of the ſubject; yet not intending …, but NationalPſal. 1. 1. 32. 2. Rom. 1. 25. 9. 5. bleſſedneſſe to them.
In Scriptures we read of a … Land, of a bleſſed ma… and of God bleſſed ever, but muſt not think them bleſſed allPſal. 1. 1. 32. 2. Rom. 1. 25. 9. 5. one way, or with one kind of bleſſedneſſe: they be three beatitudes, and all of ſeveral ſpecies; that of a Land very good, that of man much better, but that of God infinitely beſt. The bleſſedneſſe of God is the greateſt and higheſt good, that of men next, that of a Land in ſuo genere, leaſt and loweſt; for beatus homo is more in its proper ſenſe then beata terra, but benedictus Dominus more then both. God is bleſſed of man, man of God, the Land of both: yea, God is bleſſed of man, and of himſelf too without man, and man is bleſſed, but not of himſelf without God, but of God, and not without himſelf, and the Land is bleſsed of God and man, or of God by man.
Gods bleſsedneſſe is firſt, and he is firſt bleſſed of himſelf,S. Auguſt, Supporta. par. 3. c. 2. Anſelm. Meditat. lib. 1. cap. 2. ſibi ſufficiens, ſaith S. Auſtine, ſelf ſufficient. Bleſſedneſſe it ſelf, and the fountain of bleſſings: fons vivus, ſaith Anſelmus, an ever flowing and an overflowing fountain, from him all bleſſedneſſe flows to perſons and Nations, and to him ſhould all their bleſſings return as riverets and flouds of waterScalig. contra Carda. Exerc. 46… to the main, from whence, as Scaliger notes, they borrow beginnings. By him it is that man is beatus, and a Land beata, and by both ſhould he be benedictus, bleſſed of man, and of men for being ſo of himſelf, and for bleſſing them. But he is not bleſsed of them, as they are of him. Mans bleſſing of God is merely Declarative, but his bleſſing of man is more. Man does not make, but only ſpeak God bleſsed, and ſuch a ſpeaking of him ſo, addes nothing to his own ſelf-bleſsedneſs. God is not the leſſe bleſſed indeed, though man bleſſes him not: but man is, if God bleſſes not him. Man is not as God, of himſeif bleſſed, nor can he be: but God bleſſes him by communicating bleſſedneſſe unto him. Gods meer ſpeaking of any man bleſſed, makes him bleſſed: as Aquinas well obſerves, his fiat does it, nor can it be without him. He is vita beati hominiis, ſaith S. Auſtine, the life of the bleſſed man,S. Auguſt. de C…itate Dei. l. 19. his bleſſed life. Summum bonum, that makes it life and bleſſed. Now the more man enjoyes him, the more he joyes in him, and his fulneſſe of joy will be in his fulleſt enjoying ofIdem Confeſſ. lib. 12. him, but ſo we ſhall not be bleſſed of him without our ſelves. He that made us without our ſelves, will not ſave us withoutId. de Tri…it. our ſelves, as St. Auſtine well and truly. It is indeed by Grace we are ſaved, but not without cooperating Grace, as that ornament Epheſ. 2. 5.of Hippo calls it, we muſt be workers together with God, foreign, ſaith the Apoſtle, and ſo work out our own ſalvation 2 Cor. 6. 1. Thil. 2. 12.with fear and trembling. Though it be with reſpect to ſaving Graces, that men be ſtiled beati, yet not ſo much to their having as their uſing of them: as beati immaculati, bleſſed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the Law of the Lord. Bleſſed are they that keep his Teſtimonies, that ſeek him with the whole heart. Pſal. 119. 1, 2. where bleſſed is twice aſcribed to the uſing of ſuch graces, and that bleſſedneſſe of another Nature, and higher worth then this in my Text, that ſpiritual, this temporal. Yet this is of worth too, yea of much worth, worth my pains in preaching, and yours in hearing, worth all mens prayers, when they want it, and all their thanks and praiſes when they have it, as, God be praiſed,Antecellens …m ibus eruditione & …opien…ia. Arquer. Dictionar. The▪ 1 Kings 4. 29, 30, 31. now they have. This well inſpired Preacher, Solomon himſelf, eſteemed it an Argument worthy of himſelf, ſo did the Holy Ghoſt in putting it into the pen of ſuch an Amanuenſis. yet it is but terrene bleſſedneſſe, a temporal benefit, the bleſſedneſſe of a Land, Terra beata, bleſſed art thou, O Land.
Bleſſed of God and man, or of God by man, for God gives the man, and the men by whom it is bleſſed. By him Prov. 8. 15.Kings reign, and Princes have felicifying vertues, as that of Temperance, to eat in due ſeaſon. When ſuch are beati, the Land is beata, bleſsed in them, and bleſsed by them, or for them. Their bleſſedneſſe ſpiritual conduceth much to that of the Land, which is but temporal, meer civill happineſs, yet may help to render ſome more then civilly happy. But not to mention what may be, it is National bleſsedneſs, and muſt be anſwered with National thankfulneſs. We muſt acknowledge Gods bleſſing in it, which is our way of bleſſing God, as ſaith Aquinas. Now to bleſs him ſo, let us reaſſumeBenedic…re nostrum, eſt benefici … ejus agnoſcere. Aquin. Tom. 13. the conſideration of the two conditions: the first concerns the King, as ſupream: the ſecond his miniſters, here ſtiled Princes, as ſubordinate. As touching the King, it is conditioned that he be the ſon of Nobles; as touching the Princes, that they eat in due ſeaſon, for ſtrength, and not for drunkenneſs, In each condition obſerve twice two conſiderables, firſt, two and two ex parte Kegis, concerning the King, and then as many again ex parte Principum, four and four in both, all gradual Mediums to National bleſsedneſs, or to the perfection of it, ſee them in order, and firſt in reference to the King theſe four.
1. That the Land has a King.
2. That it has but one King, it is Rex, not Reges in the condition.
3. That it has its own King, Rex tuus, thy King.
4. That it has him by ſucceſſion, as deſcended from the race of Kings, filius candidorum, the ſon of Nobles.Tantum cibi pot usque ſumun…, quant… viribus reſiciendis ſuffic…at, reliquum vero tempus omne fideliter Reipub. impendunt. Anton. Corran. in locum.
Secondly, in reference to the Judges and Magiſtrates, and other Worthies of the Land, here honoured with the ſtile of Princes, theſe four.
1. That there be Princes in the Land.
2. That they be Princes of the Land, Principes tui, thy Princes.
3. That they be ſober perſons, ſuch as eat in due ſeaſon▪
4. That they be of publick ſpirits, as publick perſons ought to be, and aim at ſtrength, not drunkenneſs in eating. At ſtrength to doe their office, and ſerve their Countrey, not at Drunkenneſs to debauch their Honours, and ſerve the Devil.
In thoſe articles which refer to the King, we may ſee what ſhould be, and is in England, to make it bleſsed. In theſe which refer to the Princes, what is, or ſhould be, to compleat the bleſſing. To have a King, and but one King, and he both the right King, and a right King, is but what ſhould be, and is, in England, the Lord be bleſsed, to make it bleſsed, and to have Princes in the Land, Peers, and perſons of worth in Truſt and Power, and they Princes of the Land, right Engliſh Worthies, to whom there belongeth jus imaginis, the Hō noursId eſt, Jus Nobilitatis. Sigon. de j…re Rom. lib. 2. c. 20. of ancient families, and they ſo qualified, as Princes ſhould be, with Noble vertues, to do right honourable ſervice to God, the King, the Countrey, eating in due ſeaſon, and aiming at ſtrength for publick performances, like publick perſons, not Drunkenneſs, like ſneaking ſots in privatePemb. Analyt. Expoſ. Com…dere enim debent ut vivant Deo; non vivere ut comedant. Hugo Cardinal. in locum. Debaucheries, not ſerving their own luſt, but the good of others; as it is, or ſhould be, to make the bleſsedneſs compleat. Now for certain we have all the firſt in eſse, and all the laſt at leaſt in fieri. We have a King now, God be bleſsed, and we have our own King, the good Lord bleſs him, and be bleſsed for him, and he Rex Nobilis, a right King indeed. The ſon of Nobles in Solomons righteſt ſenſe. Gods bleſſing therefore to the Land, for bleſsed art thou, O Land, when thy King is the ſon of Nobilitatem non dat unus dies. …. ud. Vives Satellit. See Switzerland in Mercator's Atlas. And in Archbiſh. Abbot's Deſcript. of the World.Nobles.
And we have Princes too, for an Honourable Houſe of Peers again, to redeem us from that other Houſe, and they Princes of the Land, not ſubdititious Lords of adulterine Editions, no Protectorian Muſhromes, meer Nullities Ephemeral, but foreign, of right Royal Creations: vere Patricii, the right Engliſh Nobility, of nobler minds then to come down to thoſe unengliſhed Confederates in the Land, that would have it like to the Land of Confederates, a very Anarchie; Heroick perſons, and of Princelike ſobriety, to eat in tempo…ſuo, and then but ad reficiendum; as St. Jerome renders it, to renew their ſtrength, exhauſted with publick ſervices. Publici boni amantes, as Corranus ſaies they ſhould be, loversS. Hieron. Interp. Bibl. Corranus in locum. of publick good. Such we have, God be thanked, though all, it may be, are not ſuch. And ſo all the Articles be true, though not of all, and known ſo to be, though not to all. Certainly true of many, though not aſcertained to the many. …ea all be ſuch forought I know; but certain it is that hisProclama. M…y 30. 1660. Proclama. Aug…ſt 13. 1660. Pro…lama. Septem. 29. …660. Claudian. de 4. Honor. Conſ. Sacred Maieſty takes all due care to have all ſo, witneſſe his ſeveral Proclamations againſt Debauchery, wherein he commands both Princes and people to be of ſober Converſations, that he in them might be as bleſſed by that condition on their part, as they are in him by that and all conditions on his. O that Claudians, Regis ad exemplum, &c. were verified in this, as in matters of leſſe concernment, that ſuch as love, or pretend to love his Majeſty, would ſhew it in †Joh. 14. 15. Seneca in Thyeste.keeping thoſe Royal Mandates as well as others. Rex vel…t honesta; Would to God Seneca could now make good what follows, … non eadem volet. Were all the people, are but all Princes ſuch as the King would have them, the Land would ſurely be as bleſſed, as Solomon can aſſert it by the Text.
But ſuppoſe ſome defects in ſome, and I do but ſuppoſe it, … ſuppoſitio nihil ponit; yet all being perfect ex parte Regis, … Land may aſſelf the title of bleſſed; for as there is a bleſſedneſſe on both conditions together, ſo in either by it ſelf. And they be not merely the joynt conditions of one onelyonly bleſſedneſſe: but the different advantages of divers, ſo the …ginal intends it. foreign is plurale conſtructum, as well as …gulare. As it may be rendred b…ata w…th St. Jerome, or be…tu S. Hieron. Interp. Bibl.with Pagnine and Mercer: ſo …t may beatitudines tuae, … Montanus latines it, thy bleſſedneſſes. And ſo much Bux…f, a Maſter of that holy Language, likewiſe obſerveth, as Pagnine does with the Targum and Rabbinical Criticks. SomePagninus T…e Lingu… S…ct. foreign M…nt. Bib. …. … Rod. Hebra…. in foreign O q…e tu es bien heureux o terre. of the French Tranſlatours turn it by foreign. O how happy art thou, O Land? As w…ndring at the happineſſe or happineſſes; happy in having thy King the ſon of Nobles, and happy in having thy Princes, ſuch as eat in due ſeaſon, for ſtrength and not for drunkenneſs: beata in that, and beata in this, bleſſed in either, but wonderfull bleſſed in both together.
And not only ſo as by two ſingle beatitudes, one by the one condition, another by the other, but by many in each; As 1. Bleſsed art thou, O Land, in having a King; and 2. bleſſed art thou in having but one King: and 3. bleſsed in having thine own King: and 4. bleſsed in having ſuch a King as thine own, a King right Noble, the ſon of Nobles: and 5. bleſsed alſo in having Princes: and 7. bleſsed in having them temperate perſons, ſuch as eat in due ſeaſon: and 8. bleſsed in having them aim at ſtrength, not drunkenneſs in eating. And ſuppoſe them not all ſeveral bleſſedneſſes, yet be they ſeverall addi…ions to that ſo accumulate in the Text; and each addition is a bleſſing.
I cannot now review them all, but muſt take up with thoſe of the King, or by him, which ſpeak us bleſsed, and bleſsed, and bleſsed, exceedingly bleſsed. Shall I run them over again to open the palm of the Time with the Text? firſt, bleſſed art thou O Land, in having a King. But ſecondly, more bleſſed in having but one King. And thirdly, more and more bleſsedFilius Candidorum, Periphraſis optimi Regis, bene, b…oté, & ſancte e…uducati. Anton. Co…an. Annotar. in having thine own King. But fourthly, moſt of all bleſsed in having ſuch a King as thine own, a King moſt truly Noble, compoſed all of Nobleneſs, of Noble bloud, and a Noble ſoul, Nobly deſcended, Nobly diſpoſed, Nobly deſigned, filius candidorum, the ſon of Nobles, and Nobleſt of ſuch ſons, as maximus natu. A Noble Climax, the true Incrementum of Englands bleſsedneſs. Let us pace the Gradation again, and with ſteps more deliberate.
And in the firſt place, let us well obſerve that our very firſt ſtep towards National bliſs is our having a King. The Text ſuppoſeth any bleſsed Land to have ſo. Nor does it pronounce a Land bleſsed without one. The Land of Canaan it ſelf was very unhappy when it wanted a King, and was but merely miſcalled the holy Land. It was indeed neither holy not happy: but therefore unhappy, becauſe unholy, & therefore both becauſe without a King. When there was no King Judg 17. 6. 21. 25.is Iſrael, every man did that which was right in his own eyes. And when every man did ſo, but few or none did that which was right in the eyes of God. And when it was ſo in the Land, how could it be bleſsed? Great was the wickedneſs then, and great the wretchedneſs in Iſrael: witneſs thoſe wofull ſtories towards the end of Judges, where all the evils both … and poenae, of ſin and ſuffering be often aſcribed to theJud. 18. 1. want of a King, non erat Rex, there was no King in Iſrael.
And as Iſraels woes in diebus illis were for want of a King: ſo were Englands of late. Non erat Rex in Anglia, we had not our King in England. But almoſt every man plaid Rex, and did what ſeemed good in his own eyes. Yea every man but thoſe good Engliſh Proteſtants that were true Royal…iſts…, and had the fear of God before their eyes. Alas! they only might not do what ſeemed right to them, and was right indeed; or not without dangers of cenſure and ſuffering. They might not do right to their God, nor right to their King, nor to their Countrey, nor to their own ſouls, except in ſecret. They might not ſerve God as they ought, nor pray for this bleſsedneſs of my Text, without hazzarding liberties, livelyhoods, lives and all. Indeed much tender pity was then pretended towards tender Conſciences; but none intended indeed for any but thoſe erroneous. No kind of pi… tymight be extended to any good conſcience that obliged to Loyalty, nor to any pious ſoul that would not renounce the right Engliſh Proteſtancy. The mercies deſigned for ſuch were cruelties: unleſs ſequeſtrations, proſcriptions and trucidations duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page were Acts of mercy; or unleſs the forcing of men from conſcience with Covenants, and trappaning their ſouls with ſnares were mercies. All ſorts of Apoſtates might be indulged: but no *Invidiam ſortita est Religio. S. Auguſt. foreign. Joh. 17. 3.true ſons of the Church of England; as in Greece of old and in old Rome, men might have worſhipped any God, but only the God of Iſrael, the onelyonly true God; or might have worſhipped him with any but his own true worſhip: ſo in England of late men might have been any thing but onelyonly what they ſhould have been, they might have been of any new Religion they liſted, or of no Religion at all, if they liſted, as too many were. But might not be for that good old way Jer. 6. 16.they had been, and ever ſhould have been: any but the Divine ſervice of our Church might have been uſed, toleration for any beſides might have been purchaſed. The Jews might have a Synagogue, and had in Englands Metropolis to deny our Saviour, and contradicted his foreign. But Engliſh Proteſtants might not be protected. Many were ruined, Religi… nis ergo, and others ran the hazzard. Theirs was the ſaddeſt condition of any, becauſe there was no King in England.
We then were like to Iſrael for want of a King, and ſhould not be unlike the better Iſraelites, now we have one. When God had bleſſed them with a King, they loved him as their lives; and ſtyled him the †Lam. 4. 20. L…cernam Iſrael. 2 Sam. 21. 17. Quintus … Curtius de Geſt. Alexandr. lib. 10. Job 28. 13. Pſal. 27. 13 142. 5. Iſa. 38. 11. 53. 8. Ezec 26. 20 32. 23, 23.Breath of their noſthrils, and the Light of Iſrael. We have now as juſt cauſe, as I conjecture: for the Light and Life of this our Iſrael went and came with our Soveraign. The whole Land without him was but Corpus ſine Anima, a Body without a Soul; as Q… Curtius ſaid of an Army without a General. We could not then look upon England, as on Iobs, or Davids, or Iſaiahs, or Ieremies, or Ezechiels Land of the Living. It was a dying Life, we living; or a living Death we endured; a ſtate worſe then Death indeed. When this Preacher, Solomon, in his dayes had conſidered the oppreſsions done under the Sun, and beheld the teares of ſuch as were oppreſsed, and had no Comforter. On the ſide of their Oppreſſours there was power: but they had no Comforter. He praiſed the dead more then the living, Eccleſ. 4. 1, 2. No… could he have done otherwiſe of late, had he conſidered the Oppreſſions done in England, and behold the teares of ſuch as were oppreſſed, and had no comforter. Proh dolor! non erat Rex in Anglia, there was no King in England to relieve the oppreſſed; or to enliven thoſe that were even worſe than dead. The Natural Bodie wanteth Life, when it wants a Soul; ſo did the Bodie of this Land, when that Civil Soul, King was parted from it. And Carkeſs-like, it corrupted apace, and bred devouring Vermine, which lived like themſelves, upon the Bodies of other Men's Eſtates; while others, their betters did not, could not live as otherwiſe they might. Alas! good Subjects did not live, but ſuffer; for, ſimplex vita non est vivere, ſed valere, It is not to live, merely to have life, but to enjoy it. But that we did not, could not, when the Civil Soul of our Nation; and religious Soul of our National Church was forced to a ſorrowfull ſtate of ſeparation. Moſt heavy oppreſſions were allSurely oppreſsion maketh the wiſe man mad, Eccleſ. 7. 7. abroad. Such as made ſome wiſe men mad, and ſome mad men Wiſe. So wiſe, as to ſee their want of a King; yea ſo wiſe, as to underſtand, that England's real Comfort is onelyonly in a Royal Comforter. It was merely by Antiphraſis, that ſome would needs be miſcalled Conſervators, and others Protectors; when P…ety and Loyaltie could find no Protection, becauſe no King in England. But bleſſed be the King of Rev. 17. 14.kings, we have one now, to do us right; one that hath already enlivened, and enlightened the Land, as holy Iob hasIob 33. 30. it, Luce viventium, with the Light of the living. And nothing now can ſeem more ſeaſonable than Acts of Oblivion, in reference to the late Oppreſſours, and to the Powers on their ſide. Yet nothing can be leſs ſutable than preſent forgetfulneſs of ſuch Oppreſſions, in reference to God our Saviour, who hath ſo redeemed us from them. It is indeedS. Chryſ. Homil. ad popul. Antiochen. foreign, as S. Chryſoſtome ſaies of Sadneſs, to retrive any thoughts of thoſe injurious Times. Yet muſt they be thought of: not to corroborate Animoſities; nor yet renovare dolores, to rub old ſores; much leſs to beget Reſolves, cruorem cruore reponere (if †Tertul. Lactant. Inſtitut. l. 5. S. Hieron. Epiſt. 128. ad Fabiol. foreign. Rom. 12. 13. Memineris, quod ſervus fuiſti in …erra &c. Deu. 5. 15.noble Tertullian's phraſe may be ſo taken) to recompence evil for evil. But for more pious purpoſes.
As firſt, to perpetuate due Thankfulneſſe to God, for ſo memorable a Deliverance. That Houſe of Bondage, our Engliſh Egypt, may not be forgotten, nor the Bondage of that Houſe; leaſt we forget our Obligations to thank our Redeemer. He hath raiſed the Land from National death, by reuniting it's Soul unto it. A bleſsfull Reſurrection! we are bleſſed by it, a Bleſsed Land.
And ſecondly, thoſe Miſeries muſt be remembred, to make our preſent Mercies appear the more like themſelves. Contraria juxta ſe oppoſita, magis cluceſcunt. By looking back to the Curſedneſſe of thoſe mercileſſe times, wherein we wanted a King, we may the better heed the bleſſedneſſe of theſe, wherein we have one.
And thirdly, we muſt keep thoſe Times in mind, to keep us from the like. To think of them may make men afraid to ſin as they did, by un Kinging the Land, or ſuffering it ſo to be un-Kinged. Let it never be forgotten, that for England to be un-Kinged, is to be un-Churched, to be un-bleſſed, to be undone. Let us ſo remember that ſhadow of Death wherein we ſate, when the Light of the Land wasforeign, Luke 1. ſo put out, as never to ſuffer it again to be ſo extinguiſhed. Yea let us ever beware of thoſe ill kinds of men, that be for Oppoſing, Depoſing, and Killing of Kings, ſuch be all *See Dr. Owen's Puritan Ieſuitiſme. See AntiCotton. See Sr Tho. Aſhton's Remonstr. and ſurvey of Presbyt. See Arch B. Bancroft. ſerm. 1 …o…. 4. 1. See Lyſimach. Nican. Epiſt. Congratul. See Pet. du Moulin. jun to the Scot Covenanteer.Puritanizing Ieſuites, and Ieſuitizing Puritans; fratres in malo, both for Coertion, and Depoſition of Kings, and for Decollation too, Herod and P…late reconciled. They differ de modis, but ſpeak de rebus ſo like each other, that there is hardly the difference of †Iud. 12. 6 a See Cotton's Declarator. let. to the Queen Reg. See Maria…a de Rege, & Regis Inſtitutione. G…tz. Veſpertil. … …onarſe Amphitheatr. Honor. F… Veron. Conſtan. Apolog. pro Iohan. Chaſtel. Andr. Eudae non. Ioan Apolog Guigna…d Ribadeneira. T…uan Hiſt.Shibboleth and Sibboleth in their ſpeeches. And as near an agreement, if not a nearer of late, there hath been in their Actions. Unleſſe ſome followers of Leſley have quite ont-gone all thoſe of Loyola, in the Hardineſſe of reſiſting, and affronting Royal Majeſty; and out-done them in their Boldneſſe of Murdering their Soveraign. Indeed they have ſet ſuch a Preſident of Kingkilling, as have put down a Ravilliack himſelf; yea and Chaſtel, and Clement the Iacobin too, or Iames Clement. Yea all thoſe Treaſons of Stueley, and Sanders, and Somervil, and Crighton, and Parry, and Savage, and Babington, and Stafford, and Squire, and Lopez were modeſt to that of the late Ieſuitizing Puritans; and ſo was that of Catesby, and Piercy, and Winter, and Faux; the Gun-powder Treaſon it ſelf, though horrid and helliſh, even to aſtoniſhment, as is ſtoried by that right reverend bb Bih. Carleton's Thankfull Rem…mb Bp. Barlow. Bp Andrews. …'s Great … great Deliverance.Biſhop of Chichester, and others. And let it be remembred, as it deſerves, that thoſe late Regicides were of two ſeveral fraternities: but both ſuch active Fanaticks, as if they had been Ieſuited Romists; or as if the ſoules of Briſtoe, and Garnet, and Oldcorn, and VVa…ſon; yea of Varade, and Verona, and Heureux, and Emanuel Sa had all broke Purgatory, and by a kind of Mazarinean foreign were organized by cSee Bp. Andrews his ſpeech againſt Trask, inter Opuſc.Traskites and dSee Deniſon's white Wolf.Hethering tonians, and Bareboneans; yea by Smectymnuans, and Henderſonians, and were acting them all in that Work for Rome, their King killing Reformation. And if Cauſa cauſ… be cauſa cauſati, as certainly it is, then by the Fanaticks, who began that Work, as VVicked Regicides as any others: yea the prime Agitatours. And re vera, they gave the first fatal blow, though others gave the laſt. They took the King's Crown off his head, though others took his Head off his ſhoulders. Had not thoſe firſt Fanaticks ſo murdered his Royal Power; the others had never ſo murdered his Royal Perſon. The younger enemies of his Religious Proteſtancie could not have taken away his Life, had not the elder taken away his friends in Church and State. Though the fatal Axe had an Independent Handle; yet had it a Presbyterian Back, and Edge, as well as a Ieſuitical Head. Alas! the new model'd Factions were all but off ſets of that firſt wild Root of Bitterneſſe. Their own eggs hatch't by themſelves into ſuch Cockatrices, to verifie that Proverb, foreign.E…aſm. Adag. They were laid in the neſt of the Scottiſh League, and hatch't into what they have been. Let all therefore that value the Bleſſedneſſe of my Text, take heed of Fanaticks, of that ring leading faction, as much as of others. Let all that would keep their good King in juſt Power,Eraſ Ad…g. Camd…n's Remaines. keep ſuch out of Power. Ictus piſcator ſapit; The burned child the fire dreads. Truſt not Fanaticks of either faction. In neither Barrel b…tter Herring. Sero ſapiunt Phryges. Though Chriſtian pietie may well forget to puniſh them, yet Chriſtian Polici… ſhould not forget to prevent them. And I mind you of them, but onelyonly for Prevention; wiſhing there might be a Pr…terition at leaſt, if not a Reprob…tion of all Fanatick R…gicid…s in all Elections for Truſt and Power. And I onelyonly call them ſo, that will ſee no evil in being ſo. But as touching any true Convert, I ſhall ſay, as it was of S. Auſtine after his Converſion; aFuller's Holy State: of S. Auguſtine's Life.'Tis Tyranny to trample on him that proſtrates himſelf; and as that bSeneca Tragoed.Tragoedian, Quem paenitet peccaſſe, pene eſt innocens. He that is ſuch, will ſurely wiſh, that all due care may every where be taken, to purge out that old leaven, that the next Parliament may be a new Lump. That what the Healing His Majeſties gracious Speech to both Houſes of Parliam. D…cemb. 29. 1660.Bleſsed Parliament hath ſo well farthered, may by the next be as happily finiſhed. And bleſſed be the Memory of that Healing Parliament, that hath ſo piouſly, and ſo prudently helped us to the Bleſſedneſſe of my Text; a joyous Bleſſing, the Bleſſing ſpecifical of Heaven it ſelf. And Heaven were not it ſelf without the Bleſſing of a King: it could not be the place of Happineſs, were it not a Kingdome. I never knew it ſtyled the Commonwealth of Heav…n, but foreign,Matth. 32 23. 13. 1 …or. 6 9 2 Theſſ 1. 5. the Kingdome of Heaven, and the Kingdome of God, and the Kingdome of Glory; and the Glory of it is merely from the King of Glory: without the King of Heaven, there could be no ſuch Glory, no ſuch Happineſſe, no ſuch Ioy, as there is in Heaven. The Saints and Angels there may thank their King for all their Glory, all their Happineſs, all their Ioy; and ſo they do with joyous Acclamations, inceſſant H…llelujah's.
Yet ſome Fanaticks dream of an Earthly Heave… without a King; or would make Heaven it ſelf without one for a thouſand yeares, while the King of Glory ſhould Perſonally …ign on Earth ſo long. Others would have an EngliſhCommonwealth▪ Heaven, for no leſſe time, by levelling all …o an abſolute Parity. A fanatick Dream, or monſtrous …ancy begotten by two Miſconceits.
First, that all Subjection in the Family of Adam was mere…y cauſed by the fall of Adam.
Secondly, that they be as free from ſin as Adam before his …ll; which is no leſs than the giving of Scripture it ſelf the …e: for that has con…luded all under ſin, and that by a general foreign. And if we ſay we have no ſin, we dec…ive our ſelves, Ioh. 1. 8.…aith S Iohn) and the truth is not in us.
But ſuppoſe there were no ſelf-deceit quoad hoc in ſelf-admiring Adamites. Suppoſe them as free from ſin as they bo…ſt themſelves. Yet are they a…iſſe in that other conceit. For Superior…ty and Subord…nation were rather corrupted than cauſed by the ſin of the Protoplaſt; and Soveraign Power was not brought in, but broken by his fall. It fell in him, and was as much impaired by the fall as he himſelf. God made him at firſt in his own likeneſſe, with abſolute Dominion,Gen. 1. 26, 27. in omnem terram, over all the earth; and as the Donation ran over all the earth, it ſurely took in all Inhabitants by a Metonymi of the Subject; and could not include all the Rational Creatures that were to repleniſh the earth, as wellGen. 1. 28. Eph. 5. …3. foreign 1 Pet. 3. 6. as thoſe Irrational. And that Dominion over Rationalls was firſt Martial, and ſo Paternal, and ſo Imperial.
Firſt, Martial, for ab initio the Husband was foreign the head of the Wife. And it was as much the duty of Eve to Adam, as of Sarah to Abraham, to obey him and …ell him Lord. The husband is the head of the wife, as Chriſt i… the head of the Church. And therefore (ſaith St. Paul) as the Church is ſubject to Chriſt, ſo let wives be to their own huſbands in *foreign A Chriſto Eccleſia ſumpſit initium; und… ſ…bjecta eſt illi: ita & viro mulier ſit ſubdita. St. Amb. Explan. Epiſt. ad Eph…ſ.all things, Epheſ. 5. 23, 24. Where wives ar… commanded to be ſubject to their husbands natural…l…g…; ſaith St. Ambroſe, by the law of Nature, becauſe woman ha… beginning from man. Husbands are Types of Chriſt; ſo was Adam. And wives be Types of Chriſts Spouſe the Church; ſo was Eve. And the Church is really the Mother …f all living, as *Ioſeph. Antiquita, Ju…aic. lib. 1. cap. 2. Eucher de Nom. Hebrai. St Auguſt. in Pſal 1…6. Nic de Lyra in Ge…. c. 2. St Amb…i… Epheſ cap 5.Eve was Nominally. And as ou… Mother the Church has a Royal Husband of the Second Ad…m▪ …rom whom ſhe had her being: ſo had our Grand mother Eve of the firſt, from whom ſhe had hers. Nor wa… he the leſſe her King for being her husband. Nor ſhe mo… exempted from being a ſubject by being a wife; but ſubject… even …o nomine, though of an higher form than other ſubjects. So evident it is, that ſubjection was not brought into his family by his fall: but was there before, brought in with that Honorable eſtate of holy Matrimony, inſtituted of God in …aradice, in the time of mans innocency. So his firſt Dominion over rationals was Marital.
And ſo Secondly, Paternal, for this ſecond was potentially and vertually in that firſt. By being an husband, and with that benediction too, be fruitful and multiply, and repleniſh Gen. 1. 28.the earth; he was a father eminentèr; God made him in his … likeneſſe, as he made him a man: and ſo he did, as he made him a father; but his likeneſſe to God in both, was his right of Dominion by both. He had the likeneſſe of his Maker, as he had foreign. the likeneſſe of GodsSt. Chriſ. Ad Pop. Antioch. Hom. 7. Principality: as St. Chryſoſtome well obſerves; By his Man…ood he was Gods Repreſentative in having Dominion over other Creatures. By his fatherhood, in having Domi…ion over all his off-ſpring, and Eve was one of them, …hough not naturali modo. And ſo quatenus homo, he had …uperiority over other Creatures: quatenus maritus, over …is wife; qua pat…r, over his children; and quatalis pater, … ſuch a father, that had no father but God, he had ſupre…y over all mankind.
And ſo Thirdly, his power was fontaliter Imperiall. So that …d he not ſinned, to ſhorten his dayes, and l…ſſ…n his Do…ions, he had ſurely been at laſt the father of many …tions, actually, as at firſt he was Potentially. …d he lived to ſee the whole World peopled with … Progeny; he had ſeen his Paternal Power ſpread …o Imperiall; and his Empire greater then any ſince … fall. Yea greater than the Eaſtern and the Weſtern …oth together. It had ſurely been over all the earth, ac…ording to that firſt Donation. Other Kingdomes there …ight have been, and ſhould: but none like his. And other Kings; but none like him. But all inferiour and ſubordinate to him and his. His, like God's own Kingdome, had ruled over all: and he, like God, had ſurely been, not merely1 Tim. 6 15 Rev. 19. 16 a King; but foreign. King of Kings, and Lord of lords. Though ſome of his Sons, and of his Sons Sonnes might have multiplyed ſo, as to have turned poteſtates patrias into Regias. Yet all their Multiplications muſt needs have been Deſcents from him by gradual filiations, and ſo ſubordinate to the Primacy of his Fatherhood, and that Imperial Power belonging to it. Nor could any Regified Sonnes in that ſtate of Innocencie, have refuſed to reverence that ſingular likeneſs of God's Paternity and Power in him. The light of Nature, in that ſtate of better knowledge, would ſurely have ſhown them the dutie of Sonnes to ſuch a Father; and the Power of ſuch a Father over his Sonnes. Nor could any have been like fanatick Adamites, in ſeeking to level his Power. And ſo indeed there had been a kind of Heaven upon Earth, as all had been bleſſed, like thoſe in Heaven, with ſuch a King, as by S. Chryſoſtome … Chryſ. ad popul. An… ch. Homil. 20.is defined foreign. the higheſt and head of all But by the fall of Adam that Univerſality of Kingly Power was broken; and the World's univerſal bleſſedneſſe loſt thereby. And but ſome parts have been bleſſed ſince with ſmaller Kingſhips; and but ſometimes. So Canaan was; and England is. Bleſſed be God, he hath bleſſed the Land with a King. That's the firſt.
The Second is, to have but one King. Two are too many for one Kingdome; Non capit regnum duos, ſaith Sen… ca: Seneca Trag in ….One Head is meeteſt for one Body. The Holy one… Iſrael is ſo much for one, and for but one, that for all Iſr… he appointed but one Moſes, and but one Ioſhua, and bu… one of them at once, to order both the ſword of Iustice an… that of the Militia too. The Camp, and Congregation o… Iſrael were both commanded by Moſes firſt, and then by Ioſhua, when Moſes dyed. God knew, I believe, much better then any Common wealth's man, what number was fitteſt for managing ſupreme Power. Two heads may be better than one for Counſels, but not for Commands: ſee it ſo in Bodies Polemical, and Bodies Political too.
Firſt, in thoſe Polemical, where there muſt be leading ſouldiers, and leading Leaders too, that one may lead another, and all be lead by one in order. One over all makes all as one. One Captain Commander of an Army was ever as needfull as many in it; yea many General Captains are apt, through emulation, to quarrel one another. But one Captain General takes onelyonly the common Enemie for the object of his Quarrels. The Romans for a while ſent theirVell. Patere. Rom. Hiſt. Conſuls to war with joynt Commands, and for a while their Military Tribunes; but after a while, they found that errour of dividing ſuch Commands by the fatall Diviſion of ſuch Commanders; and ſo would have but one atQuoniam dictis ejus parebat populus. Godwin's Rom. Hist. Antholog. lib. 3. ſect. 2. cap. 12 Plin. Sec. Hiſt. Nat. l. 8. c. 23. once in abſolute Power, whoſe Dictates all were to obey, from whence his Title was Dictator. And in that ſingular Number they found more ſafety, and better ſucceſſe than in their Plurals. The Body of an Army is ever in danger to be pulled in pieces, when, like the ſerpent foreign, which Plinie writes of, it hath two heads, one pulling one way, the other another. And more Heads may be more dangerous. The Athenians had ſurely been ruined, when many were equal Commanders with Mil…iades, had not wiſe Ariſtides foreſeen and prevented it, by perſwading all the Commiſſioners to reſign their conjoined Powers to the ſoleH…raults Martial Diſcourſes. Chap. 3. management of Miltiades. And that ill ſucceſſe of Eumenes was thought to happen to him, becauſe the ſilver Shields were joyned with him. Such Commanders together can hardly agree to command as one. Al…ibiades and Niceas were ever divided about the carrying on of their conjoined Powers: ſo were Fabius and Minutius: nor would Varr… and Paulus Amilius have agreed as one, had they been never ſo long conjoyned. The like may be ſaid for others: but I need not look back to Ancient Times; nor into the Tacticks of Lacedemonians or Athenians, nor into the …eats Aelian. Tact.of War taken out of Paternus, Frontinus, Trajanus, Hadrianus, Cornelius Celſus, and Cato Cenſorius, by Flavius Vegetius, Vegetius de …e Militar.commanded by Valentianus Auguſtus. Nor need I ramble to Forreign Wars to note the ill of many, or the good of one good General: our daies afford an Inſtance at home moſt notable. One good Albemarle has done that General good of Reſtoring the Land to the bleſſedneſſe of my Text; more good than many would, or could have done. Committees of Safety were but miſcalled ſo: the onlyHom. Iliad. …. foreign Epheſ. 4 6. foreign Ariſtot. Ethic. 8. 11. Monarchia, in qua uni imperanti reliqui omnes ſubjiciuntur, eſt conſenſu omnium optimus Reipub. Status Dr. Prideaux. foreign Pelic. Tact. 1. ſafety was in his ſecreſie, and that in his ſole General Captain-ſhip; for whoſe ſake, let us for ever think the better of one Polemic…l Head, and beſt of him: and be, as he therein, for one Political.
And ſo Secondly, See one head beſt for one body Politick foreign ſaith the Prince of Poets; Government by many is not good. God would have but one David, and but one Solomon, and but one of them at once, to be King of Iſrael. Nor is there more than one God to be King of Heaven. Nor can any Levelling Common-wealths Man, without blaſpheming Gods own way of Governing, affirm Popularity to be ſo good as Monarchy. Monarchy by general vote has gone for the beſt of States. And *Vincent Lupan. Commentar. in Magiſt. & Pr…ectur. fran…r.Lupanu… might well ſay, quid melius unius principatu? Whats better then Supremacy in one? It is enough that one be Magiſter Populi. foreign, ſaith St. Iames: Be not many Maſters. Many may do more hurt than good; as many did of late. foreign ſaies the Proverb: Many Rulers ruined Caria. And by many Maſters of Miſrule this Land was near its utter Ruine. When Adrianus Caeſar had foundGodwin's Rom. Antiq. Eraſm. Apothegm. lib. 6. his errour of having many Phyſicians, he alluded to that Greek Proverb ſaying, Turba medicorum perdidit Caeſarem: A Committee of Doctours have killed Caeſar. So did our many State Phyſicians, and worſe; for they murthered CHARLES the Firſt, our Engliſh Caeſar. God keep the Land for ever from ſuch Phyſicians of State. Let their foreign be ſtrongly deteſted of all: cruel Phlebotomie! Who but ſuch a Colledge would have cut off the Head to cure the Body? for their ſakes let us ever beware of many Tyrants. The poor Athenians ſmarted, when Thirty domineered.Frieg. Queſt. Polit. Oligarchical Powers were never ſafe; but oft times grievous to be born. So Rome …ound it, when thatVellius Patercul. Roman Hiſt. lib. 2. Lucan Pharſal. l. 1. Triumvirate of Caeſar, and Pompey, and Craſſus, acted moſt like it ſelf. Then Lucan could ſay, Nulla fides regni ſociis. There is no faith in fellowſhips of a Kingdome; for every ſupream Power is ever impatient of a Partner.
Nec fert Pompeiuſve parem, Caeſarve priorem. Proud Pompey could not endure an Equal; nor Caeſar a Superiour; yet Pompey was Popular, and ſeemed to act by a ſelf-denying Ordinance, as Statiſts do, when their deſignesSee Plutar. in vit. Pomp. be meerly ſelfiſh: But his ambition was too great to content himſelf with the ſtile of Pompey the Great. Pompeius Maximus was his leaſt and loweſt aime: He liked no Caeſar beſidesSee St. Aug. himſelf; nor could Caeſar abide to be leſſe than himſelf.d… Civitate Dei l. 3 … 6. … primi madu…runt ſ…ng…ne muri▪ Luc Plarſ. … T…bais petenda erant ex…mpl… …arnab. in Lucan. Aut Caeſar, aut nullus, was each of their aims; and ſo into factions they parted, a… Supremacy-partners uſe to do. Rome might have known the cruel impatience of ſuch Partnerſhips, by that of Romulus and Rh…mus. And … L… can needed not to ramble from Rome for Inſtances; nor … thither. Our own Chronicles abound, and I need there in to look no farther than the Race of King Brutus, from whom this Iſland took the Name of Britany, for that of Albion. There I have read more than once thoſe memorable Inſtances of Manlius, and Mempritius; and of Morgan, See the Abridgement of the Chronicle of Englandand Cunidagius; and of Ferrer and Porrer, who fell from Ruling together, to ruining one another for ſole Supremacy, till Ferrer ended his dayes, and Porrer that Royal Race of Brutus ſoon after. So fatal it has been to have the Kingly Power of this Land divided. Nor has it been leſſe fatal to have this Kingdome divided into many, as by the Saxons into Seven. The Land was never ſo bleſſed, as ſinceSee Cambd. Britan. that Heptarchy was turned to a Monarchy. Not many, but one Supream felicifies a Land. Homer's advice to Greece was everHom. Iliad. …. as apt for England, foreign. Let their be one Lord Paramount, one King. One puts by emulations;Claud. Dub…. Orat. in la… l. Reg. Dignita. as Dubrelius truely ſayes. And for the Peace of the Land, now bleſſed be the Authour of Kingſhip, we have a King, and but one now. It is again a Monarchy, as it ſhould be; and ſo terra beata. That's the Second.
And Thirdly, to bleſſe us more and more, God hath reſtored our right King to us. We have our own King once again; not an Intruder, but the lawfull Heir, given us by him, who made him for us. One born for England: Hom. Iliad. Ariſt. Ethic. lib 8. c. 11. Vt gregem. Pſal 77. 20. O foreign John 10. 11. verſ. 2. foreign verſ. 1. Princeps Paſtorum. 1 Pet. 5 4.foreign as Homer ſtiled his Agamemnon; The Shepherd of the People; appointed of God without doubt, to lead his people like a flock. And like the good Shepherd his entrance into his ſheepfold was by the right way of Royal Right: that's foreign, by the door. Not like that late Intruder, who climbed up ſome other way: foreign the ſame was a thief and a robber. But thanks to him who is foreign Our righteſt leader is returned in peace; though that Intruder was fetch't away in a bluster. Long may our welcome Shepherd lead the flock; Whoſe own the ſheep are, See Ariſt. Ethic. lib. …, cap. 12.and he careth for the ſheep. No Protector to an own King, An own King takes the good of his Kingdome for his own; and mindes rem populi as his own. But own advantage,Freigii Quaeſt. Pol. Ariſtot. Politic. l. 5. Dona…. Acciaiol. Commentat. in Ariſt …. Po…it. Oſorius de Regis Inſtit. & Diſcipl. lib. 3. own intereſt is the aim of Intruders and of Tyrants; as Freigius notes, with Ariſtotle. And what was it but proprium commodum, that the late ſelf-minders miſcalled The Good old Cauſe. No Tyrants to ſuch intruding Saint ſeemers: They commonly blaſphemed our Noble Sovereign with the nick name of Young Tarquin; but were themſelves the proud Raviſhers. They raviſhed the Body of his Pol…tical Lucretia: they raviſhed his Kingdome, his Royal Palace, and his Princely Revenues. And thoſe *By Proclamat. againſt Sequeſtrations, 1643. all Intruders were proclaimed Abb…t…ors of Treaſon againſt K. Charles the 1. who was traiterouſly murdered.Intruding Pulpiteers, who Pimping for them (as ſome ſerving men uſe to doe, to debauch Young Maſters) were Raviſhers too, and taught them firſt the way by raviſhing all the faireſt Perſonages in the Land with violent and adulterate ſequeſtrations; embracing filthy Lu…re, if not fair Lucretia too; and taking to themſelves the Bodies of other men's Eſtates, without taking care for the eſtates of thoſe other men's bodies; quite forgetting the aActs 3. 13time of Reſtitution of all things; and as little dreaming of ſuch a time as this for the Reſtitution of ſome things. But bleſſed be that bDan. 7. 9, 13.Ancient of dayes for reſtoring theſe dayes ſo like to thoſe of old. The Land begins to be like it ſelf again, by it's own King, beata terra. That's the Third.
The Fourth is the Crown of all the former… and moſt of all felicifies the Land. It is that we have a Royal Soveraign, See Ari. Montan. See Vatabl. See T…em. & Iun. See S. Ierome See alſo Dr. Crakenthorp. Ser. 2 Chron. 9. 5, 6, 7.a right King; foreign the ſon of Nobles. Here the Preacher puts the Emphaſis; Bleſſed art thou, O Land, when thy King is the ſon of Nobles. Some take it literally, as Montanus renders it, filius Heroum, and filius Nobilium; the ſame with our Engliſh, and Vatablus means the ſame by filius Candidorum; and ſo does Tremellius by natus clariſsimis. Others take it for a figurative Phraſe: the ſon of Nobles, for truly Noble. So S. Ierome has it, beata terra, cujus Rex nobilis eſt. But I muſt not dilate upon the Grammar of the words. Two things, I conceive, come under the ſenſe.
1. That he be Rex Nobilis, a Noble King.
2. That he be Rex Natu, a King by ſucceſſion, as ſon of Nobles.
Firſt, a Noble King: and a King may be ſo, by Extraction, or Education, or Diſpoſition. Nobly born, nobly bred, nobly minded. He is moſt truly noble, that is ſo all three wayes. And thats the Nobleneſſe that ſo felicifies this Land. See it in all three ſeverally.
Firſt, by Extraction; the primary meaning of foreign, Son of Nobles: ſuch a ſon ſhip is an Happineſſe to a kingdome, and an Honour to a King; although Malvezzi, to magnifieMalvez. Romul. & Tarquin. his Romulus, and vilifie his Tarquin affirms, that he is not glorious, that is born a Prince, but he that becomes one. By his good leave, and without it too, we muſt needs honour Noble Birth, and deem it glorious to be nobly born; moſt glorious to be born a Prince. We muſt give honour, to whom honour is due, and unto Caeſar the things Rom. 13. 7 Mat…h. 22. 21.that are Caeſar's; and honour is his, even from his Birth: the prime part of Royal Birth-right. The Text aſſerteth the Land's bleſſedneſſe according to the King's Nobleneſſe, and this according to his Birth; the Son of Nobles. And it is remarkable, that it ſayes not Herois, in the Singular Number; but Heroum, in the Plural; of Nobles. Which may be ſeveral wayes.
Firſt, in reſpect of both the immediate Parents. He that was of an Hebrew father, or an Hebrew mother, was accountedGodwin's Moſes and Aaron. lib. 1. cap. 3. an Hebrew. But he that was of ſuch a Father and ſuch a Mother, was called an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as S. Paul writes himſelf, Philip. 3 5. ſo he that is of a Noble Father, or a Noble Mother may be deemed ſome way Noble; but he that is of both Noble, is Noble of Nobles filius Nobil…um. That's the firſt, but the leaſt.
Secondly, Son of Nobles may be in reſpect of ſeveral deſcents on either ſide, or of ſeveral deſcents on both. The laſt is far moſt Honourable; and that's the Nobleneſſe of our Charles the 2. the Son of Nobles by many and many deſcents on both ſides.
Firſt, on his Royal Fathers ſide, deſcended from many and many moſt Noble Kings of ſeveral Kingdomes, and of all the moſt Noble Races in this. When the Race of King Henry the 8. was ended with Queen Elizabeth, Pretences were made by divers to the Crown of England: but after due enquiries made, they were all found in the Royal Grandfather of our moſt noble Charles the 2. And when the Buſineſſe of Recognition was on foot in the Parliament Tertio Iacobi, it was made evident by that Renowned Earl of Northampton, that the Pretences of the Britains from King The right Honorable Earl of Northampton's Speech for that Recognition. M. S.Brutus, were in King Iames, as from Cadwallo. Thoſe of the Scots by Fergus; thoſe of the Picts, by the daughter of Hengiſt; thoſe of the Saxons, by the ſiſter of Edgar; thoſe of the Danes, by the daughter of King Chriſtian; and thoſe of the Normans, by Margaret, eldeſt daughter to King Henry the 7. in whom the Red and White Roſes were moſt ſweetly damasked: York and Lancaſter well united, by that happy Match of Henry the 7. Son to the Noble Earl of Richmond, and Elizabeth eldeſt daughter to Edward the 4. from whom came Prince Arthur, who died young; and Henry the 8. whoſe Race ended in Queen Elizabeth, and left the Royal Dignities to the Race of Princeſſe Margaret by Iames the 4. of Scotland; and ſo they became the Royal Birthrights to King Iames the firſt of England, and ſixth of Scotland; and ſo to our moſt Royal Soveraign, Charles the 2. the righteſt Lineal Deſcendant. foreign by many moſt noble Deſcents on that ſide of his Royal Father.
Secondly, the Son of Nobles alſo, as deſcended from many Races of French Kings, by that moſt Noble Daughter of France, his Royal Queen Mother. An Honour of no little eſtimate; but ſo highly valued, as there is almoſt no Nation,Lupan, Commen. de Magistr. & Traeſectur. franc…r. Praefat. ſaith Lupanus, quae non ad francos Reges originem referat, adeo magnum …ſt fortibus naſci: which derives not ſome honour from French Kings, ſo much it is to be of ſuch conſanguinity. Were it feaſible in a Sermon to ſhew you all the ſtreams of Royal Bloud, that have flowed into the Nobleſt Veines of our moſt Noble Charles the 2. from all the high born Kings and Queens on all ſides in all deſcents, you could not but moſt highly honour his Nobleneſs by Extraction; and think it no Hyperbole, but his Birth-right, to beGwillim's Diſplay of Heraldry. Sect 6. c. 7. ſtiled the Noblest King in Chriſtendome, as that Herauld honours him; and worthieſt of all the Honours that Loyal Subjects can do a Soveraign, who is in Solomon's righteſt ſenſe, The Son of Nobles.
The Second way of Nobleneſſe is by Education, or Inſtitution; a Nobleneſſe that God himſelf looks after. For when he deſigned Moſes to be Ruler of his People Iſrael, he preordained his Education to be in the Court of Egypt; and not as a ſervant there, but as the ſon of a Noble Princeſſe,Acts. 7. 21, 22. who nouriſhed him, foreign ſaith St. Luke, as her own Son; and ſo he was learned in all the Wiſdome of the Deus effecit ut adoptaretur à fil…a Pharaonis. Macar. Homil. 9.Egyptians. A Prince-like Inſtitution, and merely by Divine appointment, as Macarius well obſerveth. Nor would God have David to be a King, before he had been a Courtier, and that not merely as one of King Saul's Retinue; but as of Royal Affinity, Son in Law to the King; no light matter; as David himſelf hinted to the ſervants of Saul, 1 Sam. 18. 23. But ſo he was to prepoſſeſs him with a Noble Spirit, by Nobleneſſe of Inſtitution. Such regard has God himſelf to Noble Education. Nothing more needfull for improving innate Inclinations to Noble Mindedneſſe. And ſuch Inclinations uſe to be in Noble Extractions; ſeminals of right Nobleneſſe. When Noble Birth and Noble BreedingNicho… de Ly…a in hunc Verſ. Dionyſ. Carthuſ. in L…cum. meet, as they ſhould, they make right Noble indeed; as Lyra notes: ſ… inv…cem ornant, ſayes Dionyſius Carthuſianus, they mutually adorne each other; like a precious Gem in an Ornament of gold. The Gold of Noble Extraction is ever fitly adorned with the Gem of Noble Education; and right it is for both to be deemed precious. Gold D. Ba…hol. Chaſſan. de Glor. Mu… par. 8.is ſo even from the very Mine, and ſo Nobility from the Wombe; for as Chaſsanaeus ſayes, Nobilitas tranſit in filios in infinitum. The honour of Noble Birth for ever deſcends, and that of Noble Breeding ſhould ever aſcend. Noble Temperaments be in Noble Extractions, and Noble Tendencies in ſuch Temperaments; and ſuch tendencies be eaſily heightened with right Inſtitutions. Well therefore might the Preacher beſtow the Honour of the Text upon foreign. The ſon-ſhip of Nobility has the ſtart of others to be bettered by Noble Breeding. And Nobleneſs of Breeding ſhould ever follow that of Birth. And it isBy I…ſt▪ … tion, in virtue, wiſedom…, and poli… which Education Son… of Nobles, …ſpecially ought to have Pemb. Analyt…cal expoſ. a. i. e. Pacificus ſive pacatus, Eucherius de Nom…n. H…br. S. Hieron. Interp. Nom. Mat…h. not unlikely, but Solomon might have an Eye to Nobleneſs of Breeding, in aſſerting what he does of the Son of Nobles: who ſo eyes the Education of our right a Solomon, may ſee him heightened by it to the Zenith of right Nobleneſs, advantaged by Inſtitutions, by Afflictions, and by Interceſsions.
Firſt of Inſtitutions, both Civil and Sacred; theſe by ſuch a Church-Diſcipline, thoſe by ſuch a Court-Diſcipline, as could not but ſeaſon him rightly for Court and ChurchConcernments. His Tutors in both were more than Ordinary; and his Inſtitutions by more than Tutors. No Vives, no Coxe, no Aſcham could have inſtilled better Principles into his Noble ſoul, then have been by Tutors, nor any Bachanan ſo good. Much leſs could Aristotle, or Pl…to, or Sen…a, have bettered the ſame: though famous Tutors to great Princes. And I may tell you, that his Nobleneſſe of Education derives not all advantages, nor moſt, from Tutors, though moſt able; but from a moſt Royal and moſt Religious Father, of ever bleſſed Memory, in quo inſtar omnium auxiliorum erat; who could doe, and did as much as all beſides, and much more. His Moods and Methods were like himſelf, moſt truly Noble: witneſſeforeign. Chap. 27. that part of his Royal Likeneſſe, entituled, To the Prince of Wales. And witneſſe thoſe Effects which verifie S. Auſtin… touching Diſcipline, who ſayes, it is Magiſtra Religionis & S. Auguſt. Serm 52.verae pietatis, the Tutoreſs of Religion, and real Piety. What pious and prudent Counſels were given viva vo…e, I preſume not to turn into Traditions. But my thoughts are of what, being dead, he yet ſpeaketh, by his even inſpir…d Pen. That foreign is ſtill pictural quens, and will for ever ſpeak moſt Royal Inſtitutions, and other Oraculous Enunciations; ſuch as have conduced to the making of his Majeſty CHARLES le Bon, and CHARLES le Grand; * Great in Goodneſſe, and Good in Greatneſſe.foreign. Ariſt. Eth. Lib. 5. c. 1. Secundum …ian…em. ▪H foreign. S. Chryſ. Hom. 17. ad Popul. Antioch. Rom. 5. 3, 4 foreign. The Mirrour of Nobleneſſe by right Inſtitutions.
And ſecondly, his Nobleneſſe of Education has been bettered much in the School of Afflictions; foreign God himſelf, for divers yeares, was pleaſed to School him with the Severer Diſcipline of ſad Providences. And with his Rod and Ferula hath ſurely beaten in the beſt of Wiſedom, even that which is Experimental: For Tribulation worketh patience, and patience Expertence, ſaith the Apoſtle. And to that his royal Father might allude in ſaying to him, He had the advantage of wiſdome above moſt Princes, in that he had ſpent ſome yeares of diſcretion in the experience of Troubles, and exerciſe of Patience.
And thirdly, his Nobleneſs of Education was alſo advantaged much by Interceſſions to God for him. Some by Loyal people in private Devotions well watered with tears; and others in publick, by Loyal Pulpits, conſigned and ſealed with earneſt Amens of the like Congregations; beſides the Prayers and Tears of ſuch a father as ſurely availed much. foreign Iam. 5. 16.Well might the ſeeds of his Pious Nobility, and Noble Piety thrive, being ſo well watered. It was rightly ſaid to M… nica, as touching her Son Auguſtine, that the ſon of ſo many Prayers and Tears, in all probability could not be for ever loſt. And who could expect any leſſe, than, that God, in his due time, ſhould bleſſe our Soveraign on better means; and make him a bleſſing? A right noble ſoul he has made him, by ſuch right means.
Now the laſt kind of Nobleneſſe is that of diſpoſition, Noble Mindedneſse; the very foreign of Royal Dignity, and Crown of both the former. By this a King makes good the Nobility of his Birth, and Honours of his Royal Progenitors; and proves the Text moſt true. By this he becomes a Bleſſing indeed unto his Subjects. aHug Cardina. in Locum.Hugo Cardinalis expounds the Text of this, as the only right felicifying Nobleneſſe. And bDiodati Annotat. in hunc verſ.Diodate takes him only for the Son of Nobles in Solomon's ſenſe, who bears a Noble Mind. But cCarnis propagine & virtutum praeclar…te. Dionyſ. Ca…thu. in Locum.Dionyſius Carthuſianus rightly thinks him moſt truely ſo, that is Noble by Nobleneſſe of ſtock, and alſo by a ſtock of Nobleneſſe in himſelf, a Noble ſtock of Heroick Virtues. Now this it is that beautifies our King, and beautifies his Kingdomes Yea this has crowned him already, and rendred him moſt worthy of that Royal Diadem …ow ready for for him. It is this Nobleneſſe that inclines him ſo to Acts of Grace, as the like did dPhilip of Ma…edon's Life, by S. G. S. at the end of thoſe by Plu…ar.Philip of Macedon; and makes him reſolute with eSee Plut. in vit Alex. S Ambr. in Apolog. 1. David. c. 6.Alexander the Great, that nothing can be more Noble than to do well to them that have deſerved ill S. Ambroſe thought it grande inventum in King David ſo to bear the bitter words of one bold railing Shimei. What is it then in our Soveraign, to forgive both the Lying …od. lib 9. … 36. M…gni… animi proprium eſt p…acidum …ſſ… …ranq…il…umq…e ac …jurias & …ſſ…nſa… ſuperand… deſp…cere. Senec. de Clemen. 1. 3. S…e Volater. Anthrop…log. lib. 1…. …utar in Ariſtide.Tongues and Libelling Pens of many Shime…s, and many Shebaes, and many …bſhakehs, guilty of Crimes no leſs than Capital by Imperial Laws; and not only to forgive them, but to practice the Art of Forgetting them too. Bleſſed all thou, O Land, in a King ſo Nobly diſpoſed, as to bury ten thouſand Acts of Rebellion in one Royal Act of Obliv…o…. Out acting that Aristides himſelf, ſo renowned for not remembring his malignant enemies that had exlled him. Indeed his exilement was only by an Oſtraciſme; and that ever was pro…erto tempore, and commonly cum honore; a Relegation to ſome certain place for ten or fifteen years at moſt But our Soveraigns profligation, or proſcription, or cru…ller perſecution, was on worſe tearms, yet pardoned on1 Pet. 2. 23. Cum enim Princeps vir…ibus divinis …r… natus, ad r…mp. gubernandam acceſſerit, non homo, ſed Deus ipſe remp. illam gubernabi… Deus enim in pectore ſancti principis incluſus …um movebit; & facile▪ in ſtudium publicae ſalutis impellet. Hieron. Oſ…rius Luſitan. de Reg Instit. & diſcip. l. s. better Principles. His greater indignities born, not only animo civili, with that Worthy in Su…oni…s; but animo … leſti, with that Worthy of Worthies in St. Peter, Who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he ſuffered, threatened not; but committed himſelf to him that judgeth righteouſly. And it is not only Noble mindedneſſe, but Heavenly mindedneſſe too in his Sacred Majeſty to have men live and mend. A diſpoſition that proves him both the Son of Nobles, according to his firſt Birth, and the Son of God according to his Second. Of Civil and Sacred Nobleneſſe too. It is his great Honour; and our great Happineſſe that by N… ture he is ſatus ſanguine Diûûm; the Son of England's Mort…l Gods: but his greater Nobleneſſe, and Englands greater Happineſſe, that by Grace he is renatus ſanguine Chriſti; a Son of God Immortal, every way right Noble, according to that first acceptance of the Son of Nobles.
The Second is, that a King be ſo by ſucceſsion; born a King. A point that merits more Obſervance, and a more deliberate Treatiſe, that can be miniſtred in a breath or two at the very laſt gasp of a Sermon. Yet I muſt be at a very point with it: otherwiſe I might at large have related how I…stus Lipſius treating of Kings by El…ction, and Kings byLip…u… Monit. …o…t. l. 2. c. 3. 4. Succeſsion, upon juſt reaſon, rejected Election, and electeth Succeſſion. And ſo muſt all that will yield to Reaſon, or to Religion. The Word of God aſcribes the Bleſſedneſſe of a Land to a King by ſucceſſion, or a King by Birth, the Son of Nobles. And the common Courſe of Goe hath ever been to annex the Adminiſtration of National Bleſſedneſſe to ſome Princely Tr…be ennobled for that purpoſe or to ſome certain Race of Kings. So he appointed the Noble Tribe of Iudah, with a promiſe that the Scepter ſhould Pſal 7…. 68.not depart from Iudah, nor a law-giver from between his feet Gen. 49. 10.till Shiloh came. So he likewiſe named the Race of David, Pſal. 89. 35, 36. 37.ſaying, His ſeed will I make to endure for ever, and his Throne as the daies of Heaven▪ Pſal. 89. 29. and farther declaring himſelf there ſo much for Kingſhip by Royal Birth-right, as that he vows to have it ſo. But ſo he would not have done, had he ſeen election of Kings to be better than ſucceſſion; and he muſt needs have ſeen it, if it had been ſo. And as in Iſrael, ſo in other Kingdomes, he hath raiſed ſome certain Families nearest to himſelf for the better management of his Publick buſineſſe with the people; and for the conduct of Civil Bleſſedneſſe unto them; Denying to bleſſe them by Common Hands. When Azarias and that Ioſeph ſon to Zacharias, in the time of the Mac…abees, would needs undertake the procuring of ſome bleſſing of Gods people; God would not bleſſe their undertakings, nor his people by them: Becauſe they were not of the ſeed of thoſe by whoſe hand deliverance was given to Iſrael; as it is given for a Reaſon. 1 Maccab. 5. 62. Quia non erant de ſ…min… illorum, &c. Such emulous Undertakers were of late in England, who intended, or at leaſt pretended, to ſeek the welfare of the Land: But God would not let the Land fare well by their pretences; they were not of his approved Tribe. The ſon of Nobles was not amongſt them. Nor was it his Political Capacity in a Notional ſeparation, but his Perſonal in a National Conjunction, that God would bleſſe his people by: God would have the Redeemer of Iſrael to be born a King; and ſo the R…deemer of England too. It is not for nothing, that the Holy Ghoſt would the world take notice, that ou… Saviours Kingſhip was by ſucceſſion: foreign, Born the King of the Iews. A King by Royal Birthright:Ma…th. 2. 2. Born with a right to ſit upon the Throne of his Father David, Iſa. 9. 7. And ſo in Gods ordinary way, his Inſtruments of National Bleſſedneſſe be born with right to be inthroned. When ſuch be, their People be bleſſed.
I ſhall only hint Two Reaſons of Solomon's aſſertion, and ſo thank you for your Noble Patience. The firſt inferred from the Common Infelicities that ariſe with Ignoble Upſtarts; ſuch as be d… vili loco aſſumpti, exhaled from low Parentages to high Powers, ut pluries laedunt, ſaith Aquinas: Aquin. de Reg. Princip. lib. 4. c. 19.for the moſt part prove deſtructive.
Aſperius nihil eſt humili cum ſurgit in altum.
None to the beggar on horſeback. Rome was never worſe hacknied, then when Ignoble Vpſtarts mounted the ſaddle of Imperial Command. When Op…lius Macrinus hadVolateran Anthropol. lib. 23. compaſſed the Death of the Emperour Caracalla, and cauſed the Souldiers of his faction, Oliver like, to chuſe him, though of ignoble Birth, to be Emperour, that is, Stilo novo, Lord Protectour, he ſoon became of that Oliverian Pride and Cruelty, that he plotted the ruine of all that were notSee his Life amongſt the Roman Empero…s, by R. B. See his Life alſo, by R. B. of his faction; or that would not comply with all his wicked purpoſes. So when Maximinus of ignoble birth too, was made Emp…rour by his Army Officers, he alſo ſought the deſtruction of the friends of his late Soveraign, Alexander Severus; and as O. C. did, overawed the Senate, and perſecuted Chriſtians, as Engliſh Proteſtants were of late▪ Such be the common evils, when ſuch evil Commons aſpireC…trari… rum co…trariae ſunt cauſae. Beda to Monarchize. Well therefore might Solomon ſay by the rule of Contraries. Bleſsed art thou, O Land, when thy King is the ſon of Nobles.
The Second Reaſon may be from the National felicities Me…and. in …all.that ſucceed with Noble Soveraigns. ▪o foreign, ſaith Menander; A good man is a common good: true of every good man; but moſt certainly ſo of every good King: Whoſe greateſt Nobleneſſe cannot but be the Royal Prerogative of greateſt goodneſſe: yea moſt notable Bleſſings to Places and People, have moſtly attended moſt Noble Births. I may inſtance in Caeſar Auguſtus, deſcendedSee his Life written by S. G. S. at the end of Plutarch's Live…. from the Noble Octavians; whoſe publick Deſignes reformed his State with good Lawes, repaired the Cities di…apidations; ſo modelled publick Elections, that honest Truſtees might be impowered, (as our good Soveraign does with Religious Care, to have ſuch Burgeſſes choſen)Iani Templum ſol… clauſ…, Muſarum ſol…s aperuit. Emanuel Theſaur. Caeſ. Luc. 2. 14. and laboured ſo for a General Peace, that he cauſed the Temple of Ianus to be ſhut up, as it was that Third Time, when the Prince of Peace, our Bleſſed Saviour came into the world, and was honoured with that Anglical Birth. Song, Glory to God in the high…ſt, on earth peace, &c. In honour of whoſe Birth, that Noble Auguſtus erected an Altar of Noble ſtructure in the Roman Capitol with this Inſcription; THE ALTAR OF GOD THE FIRST BORN: yea ſuch a Lover of publick good he was notedSeneca de Clement. lib. 1. cap. 1… to be, that he was worthily ſtyled Pater Patriae. I may likewiſe inſtance in that Noble Emperour Antoninus Pius, See his Life written by R. …. amongſt th… Roman Emperours.which Sir-name was given him, for pardoning many Delinquents at his firſt coming to Imperial Dignity. A branch of Royal Piety which has no leſſe flouriſhed in our moſt pious Soveraign; for which Clemency, and other Noble Qualities, that Antoninus was likewiſe called the Father of th… Virtues; for Placabilitie, Clemencie, Sanctitie, as faith Volateran, he was reputed another Numa. I could inſtance alſoVolate…. Anthropol. lib. 23. in the noble Emperour Gratianus, who did the publick good of Baniſhing turbulent Hereticks, of reducing othersSee his Life by …. B. to the true Religion, and of repairing Churches for the publick▪ Worſhip of God. The time failes me to tell you of Noble Theodoſius, and his Noble ſon Arcadius, and others that have been Publick Bleſſings to their ſubjects. I muſt end with that Noble Emperour Iovinianus, a famous Defender of the true Faith, and of ſuch as were faithfull to it; as our moſt gracious Soveraign ſhewes himſelf to be. Not miſtaking faction for faith, nor fanaticks for the faithfull; but taking ſuch to doe, by curbing their Contentious ſpirits, and countenancing thoſe that were Orthodox and Orderly, ſuch as that holy Father Athanaſius, whom he reſtored to his Biſhoprick of Alexandria, as he did alſo others to theirsSee Socrates S…ol…ſt… Eccle. Hiſt. l. 3. …. 19▪ 20. from which they had been unjuſtly ſequeſtred. And by the leading example of that good Emperour, many were induced to be Chriſtned; and by his Chriſtianity many were redeemed from Barbarian Slavery. Such a memorable Benefit, and publick good; as our good Soveraign brought with him …o this Land, where his moſt Loyal Subjects were moſt barbarouſly enſlaved by their fellow Subjects, of all ſlaveries the moſt inſufferable. But by his moſt happy coming again to the Land, the Land is moſt happily coming again to it ſelf. Terra Beata, a bleſſed Land: Bleſſed in having a King; and bleſſed in having but one King; and bleſſed in having our own King; and bleſſed in having ſuch a King as our own, a King right Noble in right acceptation of the Son of Nobles. Now the KING of Heaven bleſſe him, and be forever bleſſed for him.
And ſo let us Pray.
A Prayer.
Bleſſed Lord! thou haſt bleſſed us, and done great things for us, whereof we are glad. Thou haſt turned away the Captivity of the Land; and brought back the Captivity of our National Bleſſedneſſe. We deſire to bleſſe thy Name for all thy Mercies and Bleſſings; but eſpecially for reſtoring our thrice Noble Soveragin Charles the Second, to the Land; and the Land unto it ſelf by him. Thou haſt given him Poſſeſſion of many and many Hearts. Lord help him to hold Poſſeſſion. Thou knoweſt the Mutability of the Many, whoſe Placets are eaſily had, but hardly held; and whoſe humours are all for making a Darling great: but their Conſciences not at all, for upholding a juſt Greatneſſe. But thou ſtill and ſtill the ſame God of Love and Mercy, and Power unto him. Uphold and defend him in his juſt rights and Regalities. Make both ſorts of Independent Pride come down to Allegiance: that of the Covenant, and that of the Engagement: the Claſſical, and the Congregational. Make them both to bend under Royal Authority. And keep down all ſuch Corahs, as pretend Religion, and practiſe Rebellion. Detect the Wickedneſſe of all ſuch falſaries and Impoſtours, whoſe voices are the voices of Reformation, and Canting Incantamentations. But their hands the hands of Violence, Oppreſſion, Church-robbing, King-killing, and any ſuch helliſh Devilliſme. O thou God of Truth, ſuffer not ſuch Supplanters any more to cheat the credulous Many of their Loyalty, their Religion, their Liberty, their Eſtates, their Conſciences. Neither ſuffer ſuch ſelf-Sainting ſons of Cruelty to have any power to touch thine Anointed any more. Enervate all their Armes of fleſh, and cloath them with their demerited ſhame; but upon himſelf let his Crown flouriſh. And bleſs him ſpiritually as well as temporally; inwardly, as well as outwardly. Let not the Greatneſs of his Court Royal leſſen the Goodneſſe of his Court of Conſcience. Suffer not that White Hall which is in him, to be loſt in that White Hall in which he is. And let not any Feaſt be a Voider to that, which has been his Continual Feaſt. But let that Peace of Conſcience, which ſugared all his ſufferings, and ſweetned all their Sharpneſſe, be ſtill and for ever thy Entertainment of him. Let thy Royalty be Bleſſedneſſe to him, as his is to thy People under him. And to make us all his Obedient Subjects, make us thy faithfull Servants. Help us to honour, and humbly obey him in thee, and for thee. Direct us, and all that be concerned in that great Concernment of the Land, the choice of Repreſentatives. Let all Elections tend to thy Glory, the Honour and ſafety of thine Anointed; the Peace and Proſperity of this Nation, and National Church, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.
FINIS.
End of the text · Edward Willan, King Charles the Second (1661)