A Good Prince Bewailed, Sermon
PEPLUM OLIVARII, OR, A good Prince BEWAILED BY A GOOD PEOPLE. Repreſented in a SERMON October 13. 1658. Upon the death of OLIVER Late Lord Protector.
By George Lawrence A. M. Miniſter of Croſses Hoſpital.
foreign. Homeri Iliad. foreign. ſaid Achilles.
Theodoſius tan…us Imperator receſſit à nobis; Non totus receſſit; reliquit enim nobis HONORIUM, & filios ſuos, i… quibus eum debemus agnoſcere. Ambroſius in Obitu Theodoſii.
When the Inhabitants of the Land ſaw the mourning in the floor of Arad, they ſaid This is a grievous mourning: wherefore the name of it was called foreign ABEL MIZRAIM.
Geneſis 50.11.
LONDON, Printed by E. M. for Samuel Thomſon at the Biſhops head in Pauls Church-yard. 1658.
TO THE THRICE ILLUSTRIOUS RICHARD LORD PROTECTOR OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND & IRELAND, AND THE Dominions Thereunto belonging.
May it pleaſe your Highneſſe,
TO accept this poor Oblation, as a Teſtimony of my unſpeakable grief and ſympathie for the loſſe of your Renowned father, OLIVER LATE LORD PROTECTOR, and as a paremphaſis and acknowledgment of thankfulneſſe for your Highneſſe perſonal undeſerved reſpects to
Your moſt Loyal, And Humble Subject, George Lawrence.
PEPLUM OLIVARII, OR, A good Prince BEWAILED BY A GOOD PEOPLE.
2 CHRON. 35.24.
— All Judah and Jeruſalem mourned for Joſiah.
IN the twentieth Verſe is Deſcribed the ſubſequent manner of Joſiah's death, The Coherence.after he had done ſo many Glorious Actions, and eſpecially his unexampled Preparation of the Temple. That we may underſtand ſaith Cajetan, That Divine Grace even in the time of the Old Teſtament is granted to the very friends of God not according to life temporal, though it be very much deſired.
And the occaſion was this. Pharaoh Necho, (or the lame) King of Egypt came to fight againſt the King of Aſsyria, 2 Kings 23.29. Whom ſome ſuppoſe to be Hadadrimmon, (or Adad the ſonne of Tabrimon, who was Benhadad, 1 Kings 15.18.) Joſiah's confederate, and reigned in Carſhemiſh: from whom, or the abundance of Pomegranates, the City and the battelfield ſeeme to take their names. Which *foreign. 70.place was eminent for the mourning of Ahab ſlaine at Ramoth Gilead, ſay Jonathan, Adrichomius, and others; and eſpecially for the mourning for Joſiah wounded, and ſlaine in the Valley of Megiddo, Zech. 12.11. But that Benhadad was at this laſt fight, computers do deny, he being dead many years before this engagement of Joſias. And therefore more probable it was Nebuchadnezzar the elder, who was both King of the Aſſyrians and Babylonians, and Carchemiſh by Euphrates was his preſent hold, which being a Syrian City mentioned in Eſay 10.9. and Jerem. 46.2. ſent many forces (ſaith Joſephus) againſt the Medes, and Babylon, who had often worſted the Aſſyrians.
What was the cauſe now is not known, but it is apparent, that there was continual hatred betweene them. The Truth, and Antiquity of which ſtory, as to its ſubſtance, is atteſted by Herodotus in his ſecond book called Euterpe.
Lavater ſaith, That Interpreters write that the King of Aſſyria had expelled the King of Syria out of Carchemiſh, whom Necho intending to reſtore, brings his forces through Judah the neareſt way, having received a Commiſſion to make haſte, and Joſiah fearing National troubles, withſtood this lame, yet flying Necho.
And Albeit Necho ſends himVer. 21.
1. Ambaſſadours of Peace.
2. Informs him of a ſpecial Commiſſion from God.
3. Diſſwades him from intermedling.
4. And though he tells him of the danger, as having received a prophecie from the Prophet Jeremy, that he ſhould go to Carchemiſh, and prevaile, ſaith Hierom in his Hebrew Traditions, yet notwithſtanding all his arguments, Joſiah provokes Necho, and drawes forth to fight in the Valley of Megiddo.
Note, That the beſt of Gods people have their overſights and failings, which many times they cannot ſee to redreſſe, before it be too late.
James 3.2. In many things foreign, we ſtumble all. Humanum eſt errare. Homo ſum. *L. 1. Hiſtor. Alieno Imperio felicior, qudm ſao.Tacitus ſaith of Sulpicius Galba, that he was more happy in anothers Kingdome, than his own: But Joſiah was more happy in his own Kingdome, than anothers.
And though ſome things may plead for Joſiah, as
1. His zeal againſt a proud, cruel, and lofty perſon.
2. His aſſiſtance of a Confederate.
3. His defending his own Land from Invaſion.
4. Necho's pretended Commiſſion might have been a meere Colluſion, though the effect ſhewed otherwiſe.
5. Expedition, and haſte to prevent an Incurſion; yet Joſiah was not blameleſſe.
1. Becauſe hearing of Necho's Commiſſion, he was incredulous: For God can ſpeak by wicked men, as Balaam, Caiaphas, yea by brutes, as by Balaams Aſſe.
2. Becauſe he was ſelf-confident, perſiſting in his reſolved courſe.
3. Becauſe he asked not counſel from God, ſaith Cajetan. He muſt be in haſte indeed, who taking a long journey, will not pray a ſhort prayer.
Whence we may learn,
1. That there is not a juſt man upon earth that doth good, and ſinneth not, Eccleſ. 7.20.
2. That God leaves his many times to try them, 2 Chron. 32.31.
3. That though God doth puniſh ſuch, yet he moderates his corrections. Seen in Aſa, Jehoſaphat, Amaziah, Uzziah, Hezekiah, and here Joſiah. Though he dies in Megiddo, yet in the peace of his Kingdome, and he lives in heaven.
4. That the wiſeſt hath no cauſe to truſt in his own wiſdome, Eccleſ. 7.16, 17, 18, — Prov. 23, 4. Ceaſe from thine own wiſdome. For though Joſiah thirty years was a wiſe, holy, and happy Prince, yet he erred at laſt in bringing warre on Egypt. Many, and great be the errors of wiſe men, which made Cicero himſelf exclaime againſt himſelf, O me nunquam ſapientem! our own wiſdome is a weak Reed, which will quickly fail.
5. Be not Cenſorious, ſaith Job, ch. 12.5. He that is ready to ſlip with his feet, is as a Lamp deſpiſed in the thought of him that is at eaſe.
6. Beare with the infirmities of the weak, Rom. 14.1. foreign; Receive ſuch (as mothers their ſick, and weak children) into your boſome.
7. It is our beſt wiſdome to flie to the true Oracle for wiſdome; and to pray, Lord order my ſteps in thy Word, Pſal. 119.133. and to cry, Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footſteps ſlip not, Pſalme 17.5.
8. Adde watchfulneſſe, Matth. 26.41.
Joſiah is now come to the bloody field, Ʋerſe 22.the Valley of Megiddo, taking its name from a Town, or Caſtle near adjoyning, for the word generally notes a Town, or Caſtle, ſaith Strigelius. Armageddon mentioned in Rev. 16.16. notes the place of cutting in pieces, or the deſtruction of a Troop, ſaith *In his conſent of Scripture.Broughton; of foreign, as in Euſebius; and Mageddon, the Mount of Megiddon. It was a City whoſe King Joſhua took, Joſh. 12.21. And hence it appears, Tunc tua res agitur—that Necho marching beyond his bounds, moved Joſiah to counter-march, leſt he ſurprizing the neighbour-Kingdome, he might both over-run, and overthrow his alſo: and in this place he was ſhot, ſaying to his ſervants, have me away. He ſhewed himſelf not wounded, but as ſick, Verſe 23.ne exterreret exercitum ſuum, ſaith Cajetan, that he might not diſhearten his Army, and of this wound he not long after died, and in this place; for it is expreſſely ſaid, 2 Kings 23.29. He was ſlaine there.
And although in the four and twentieth verſe, it is ſaid, He was brought into Jeruſalem, and he died; Verſe 24.yet oftentimes the order of the thing done, is not according to the order of the Narration. And though he was removed from one Charet to another, yet he came not alive to Jeruſalem; for it is expreſſed, 2 Kings 23.30. his ſervants carried him in a Charet dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jeruſalem: Albeit here the word Jeruſalem is put before the word Died.
Queſt. If Joſiah ſo died; How was Huldah's Prophecy made good, by whom God had ſaid, 2 Chron. 34. Ver. 28. Thou ſhalt be gathered to thy fathers in peace?
Anſw. 1. He had inward peace in his own ſoul: ſo Junius. But this was not all; for ſo he might have had peace, had he been elſewhere than in his own Territories.
2. Sic dixit coneſtim veluti cedentia ſomno. Lumina dimi ſit, plaeid…que ibi morte quie vit. Hier. Vida.In reſpect of the peace of his own Kingdome; for the peace is not the proper and private peace of the King; for he died not peaceably as one is ſaid to die of old age, as Simeon, *Ubi tam diù vivunt homines, ita quod habeant taedium de ſuo vivere. Where men live ſo long, that it is a tediouſneſſe to live any longer.Luk. 2.29. Or as the people in *Ubi tam diù vivunt homines, ita quod habeant taedium de ſuo vivere. Where men live ſo long, that it is a tediouſneſſe to live any longer.the Iſles of Arren in Ireland, which will not let the candles of their lives blow out, though they be in the ſnuffe, ſaith a Writer: Nor as one is ſaid to die of a natural diſeaſe, 1 Kings 2.6. But it is the publick peace of the Kingdome not diſturbed with Wars wherein Joſiah died. Thus a proſperous ſtate is peaceable, 2 Sam. 11.7.
3. In that he ſhould not be a ſpectatour of the troubles threatned, which ſhould come after his death, Eſay 57.1, 2. He enters into peace, being taken away from the evil to come; And ſo the nine Patriarchs before the flood came; and all the Apoſtles but John, before the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, ſaith Strigelius.
4. In that he ſhould have a quiet Funeral, as ſhould become the ſtate of a Prince. In War dead bodies are tumbled into the grave, 2 Kings 13.21. Jerem. 34.5. The Prophet ſpeaking of Zedekiah who ſhould ſuffer hard things, ſaith thus, Thou ſhalt die in peace, and with the burnings of thy fathers, the former Kings which were before thee, ſo ſhall they burn odours for thee, and they will lament thee, ſaying, Ah Lord!
Therefore ſaith Lavater, I will gather thee in peace; that is, I will not deſtroy thee with others, nor lead thee a Captive as others to Chaldea; but thy ſoul ſeparated from thy body, ſhall be carried up into Abrahams boſome, and thy body ſhall be interred in the Sepulchres of thy Anceſtours; not as the bodies of others to be devoured with birds and beaſts: And as Sanctius notes, he is ſaid to be gathered in peace who is buried with Kingly Pomp, and Solemn Mourning, which is not wont to be done in Warre and Tumult.
5. In that he ſhould have everlaſting reſt, and glorious peace. So Deodate, and others.
Thus this diſguiſed Prince is wounded with a Lethalis Arundo, which fears no Vizzards; wounded, dies; and dead, is brought to the Royal City; and ſo imported, is Honourably inhumed in the Sepulchres of his Royal Predeceſſours, while his Princely Hearſe is embalmed with his Subjects tears.
The words are a ſad and full Narrative of an univerſal lamentation for the deceaſe of a Noble and Religious Prince.
Wherein you have theſe parts.Diviſion.
1. The perſon dead, King Joſiah.
2. The Mourners, all Judah and Jeruſalem.
3. The Solemn Funeral Act, Mourned. All Judah and Jeruſalem mourned for Joſiah.
Graecia tum poſſit Priamo quoque flenda videri.Ovid.
For Explication, we ſhall enlighten only one word. Explicat.MOURNED.
1. The Engliſh word Mourned ( *Minſhaw.ſay our Criticks) comes of foreign, fatale, fatal, foreign, mors, death. Or of the Hebrew word foreign Maar, dolere, to grieve, becauſe death is the occaſion of ſorrow.
2. The Latine word lugeo, read in the Text by Hierom, Montanus and Junius (ſay they) derives it ſelf of foreign, or foreign ſingultio, to ſob or ſigh; foreign ſunt tenebrae, and foreign in caligine ſum, noting the poſture of a Mourner, in grief, and blacks.
3. The French read, Menerent Dueil ſur Joſias.
4. The Septuagint, foreign, he was foreign.
5. The Hebrew word, foreign Mitheabelim.
1. foreign Methe notes a ſmall number, Gen. 34.30. Deut 4.27. and foreign Methim a greater number, or mankinde, Deut. 3.6. Job 19.19. The people generally in City and Countrey did lament.
2. Pagnin.foreign Abelim of foreign Abal lugere, to mourn, Hoſ. 10.5. 1 Sam. 15.35. And Metaphorically noting deſolari, perire, Eſay 24.7. to deſolate, languiſh, periſh. Abels death was the cauſe of Adams mourning. He was the firſt dead man, and the firſt lamented; Adam was the chief Mourner: Funeral Mourning is as Ancient as death it ſelf. And ſome obſerve that the names of the three ſonnes of Adam were all myſterious.
1. Cain, A poſſeſſion, the type of the firſt Creation.
2. *Some derive the word of foreign Hebel, canitas, A thing which ſoon ſades, as the breath which goes out of the mouth.Abel, Vanity, the type of the world ſince the fall.
3. Seth, A replantation, or replacing of a new Creation by Jeſus Chriſt. The truth is, that Adam could not but lament Abels death, and vaniſhing condition very much; and is ſaid by Stravus to grieve ſo much, that Adam vowed continency, till warned by God, he did relinquiſh his vow. And Peter Comeſtor affirms he mourned about an hundred years, becauſe the Septuagint, Methodius and Joſephus write, that Adam was two hundred and thirty years old when he begate Seth, Abels Succeſſour.
And therefore this Abel who was the cauſe of ſo much Mourning, may ſeem a ſignificant expreſſion to ſet forth this extraordinary grief in the Text for the loſſe of an extraordinary Prince, the lamenting of whom is put for the higheſt Preſident Mourning, Zech. 12.11. Acts 2.37.
6. The Arabick renders the Text thus, All the people of Judah, and Citizens of Jeruſalem were ſadned with vehement grief for King Joſiah.
— Whence obſerve,
That the deaths of publick perſons, are to be attended with the publick lamentations of the people.
Numb. 20.19. Proof.All the Congregation mourned for dead Aaron thirty dayes, even all the houſe of Iſrael. Deut. 34.8. The children of Iſrael wept for Moſes when he died, thirty days. 1 Sam. 25.1. When Samuel died, all the Iſraelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his houſe at Ramah. Acts 8.2. Devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. Holy men ſaith Beza, Invocat autem nem….lamented dead Stephen, and buried him with a ſingular example of charity and faith, but no man prayed.
Gen. 50.3. The Egyptians lamented Jacob ſeventy dayes; and Joſeph with his brethren and fathers houſe accompanied with Charets and Horſe-men, a very great company, mourned with a great, and very ſore lamentation, ſeven dayes, Ver. 8.9, 10.
2 Sam. 3.31, 32. David ſaid to Joab, and all the people that were with him, Rent your cloaths, and gird you with ſack-cloth, and mourn before Abner: And King David himſelf followed the Biere. And they buried Abner in Hebron, and the King lift up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner, and All the People wept.
2 Sam. 1.17, 24. David lamented with this lamentation over Saul, and Jonathan his ſonne, ſaying, Ye daughters of Iſrael, weep over Saul who clothed you in ſcarlet with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparrel.
*L. 1. de gentium moribus, c. 5. de Aegypticrum ritu.Joannes Boemus of the Egyptian Rites, thus ſpeaks, they bewail the death of a beloved King ſeventy two dayes, renting their garments, abſtaining from the Market, Feaſts and Wives; caſting dirt on their heads, having two or three hundred men and women walking about, and twice a day renewing their grief, in a ſong renumerating the vertue of the King, grieving all thoſe dayes as for the death of a ſonne: and upon the laſt day incloſing the Corps in a Coffin, did place it at the entrance of the Sepulchre, where the multitude did applaud his worthy actions.
And in *Theb. l. 6.Statius, Pampinius deſcribes the funeral fire wherein the body of Archemorus was conſumed with gold, ſilver, gems, and much Artillery attending.
Tunc ſeptem numero Turmas (centenus ubique
Surgit eques) verſis ducunt Inſignibus ipſi
Grajugenae Reges, Luſtrantque ex more ſiniſtro
Orbe Rogum, & ſtantes inclinant pulvere flammas;
Ter curvos egere ſinus, illiſaque telis
Tela ſon ant; quater horrendum pepulere fragorem
Arma, quater mollem famularum brachia planctum.
And *Aeneid 11.Virgil brings in Aeneas and his company deploring the death of Pallas thus,
Spargitur & tellus lachrymis, ſparguntur & Arma,
It caelo clamorque virum, clangorque tubarum.
The very light of nature taught this; and therefore Funerals were called Juſta, Rites. Naturâ inſitum eſt, (ſaith one) non enim trunci ſumus, aut lapides. The live Piſmires bury the dead ones, magnâ in ſuam ſpeciem charitate, ſaith Textor, with a great deal of charity ſhewn to their own kinde; and ſo the Storkes; and Mr. Sandy's in his Travels relates of the Virginians, that, having covered the Corps with duſt, beſmut their faces with coal and oyle, and howle at the grave twenty four houres.
Abraham bewails Sarah's death; Jacob, Rachels; Chriſt, Lazarus; and a great company of people and women bewailed and lamented Jeſus Chriſt, Luk. 23.27.
The reaſons of the doctrine we ſhall draw from a three fold ſpring, and all in the Text.
1. From the perſon dead.
2. The Mourners.
3. The act of Mourning.
1. Taken from the perſon deceaſed.
1. A King, a publick perſon, Joſiah.
2. His Excellency and Worth. And,
3. The manner of his death.
1. A King, a publick perſon.
foreign. The chief Magiſtrate, one exalted above others by the head and ſhoulders, a Vice-god. Moſes had Gods Name lent him, Exod. 4.16. cap. 7.1. a god foreign, foreign, Politicus.non foreign, not ſubſtantially, but by way of appellation. A King is the living Image of God; he is as the Sunne amongſt the planets the Coryphaeus ſaith Keckerman. Him who imitateth the wiſe man, we call King, ſaith Plato; ſaith Seneca, what is an imprudent King, but a Marmoſet on the houſe top? The head of Caligula was ill ſet on Jupiters body: The wiſeſt we call King, hence King Quaſi Kunning. Now when the chief ſhall fail, it muſt cauſe ſinking, it is as when a ſtandardbearer fainteth, Eſay 10.18. When the Sunne is either eclipſed or ſet, or knock't out of its orbe, there muſt needs be horrible darkneſſe. The people prized David worth ten thouſand of them, unwilling that he ſhould jeopardize his life, 2 Sam. 18.3. Unus mihi Cato pro centum millibus: This ſtruck deep on Davids heart, when he bewailed Abner, 2 Sam. 3.38. ſaying to his ſervants, Know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man fallen in Iſrael? There was ſo much publick grief in the death of Titus Veſpaſian, that all grieved, as if every one had loſt a ſonne: And the people ſaid of Octavian, would he had either not been borne, or never died. A King is foreign, the peoples Baſis: Among the eight kinde of foundations ſaid *Novemb. 5. 1608. …n Pſal. 11.2, 3, 4. p 30.the King of Preachers before King James, this was one, foreign, vices, ſucceſſi ons, ſupplies. Father and ſon, res et ſpes, muſt drink of the deadly cup of deſolation. Now if the foundation be deſtroyed, what hath the righteous done? or what ſhall the righteous do?
2. His worth and excellency.
1. In his equity and juſtice.
1. He did right in the ſight of God.
2. Followed the example of David his father, 2 Chr. 34.2.
2. Religion.
1. In his diligent ſeeking after God betimes, when he was young; as in ver. 3.
2. In deſtroying of Idolatry, ver. 4. foretold, 1 Kings 13.2.
3. Repairing of the Temple, ver. 8.
4. A tender heart, trembling at Gods Word; ver. 27.
5. Renewing the Covenant, ver. 30, 31.
6. Solemn and unexampled Paſſeover, chap. 35.18.
3. Bounty, kindneſſes and goodneſſe, ver. 26.
4. Valour and undanted courage, though he failed in the laſt act, by an act of raſhneſſe.
3. The manner of death. The Shepherd being ſmitten, the ſheep are ſuddenly ſcattered; as in Goliah, 1 Sam. 17.51. and Abimelech, Judges 9.55. The ſudden death of Eli and Phineas aſhoniſhed his wife, that ſhe travailed, and died, 1 Sam. 4.19. Nil ſubitum eſt ſem… migrare par…tis, & juſ…s ſi …orte pra…patus … Refri…ris crit.And though it be true that nothing is ſudden to them who are alwayes prepared to die; and that if a juſt man be ſurprized by death, he ſhall be in heaven; yet in reſpect of Outwards, and Relations, an unexpected blow brings more than ordinary diſtraction, and it leaves a very ſad character of Gods diſpleaſure; when men as birds and fiſhes are caught in the ſnare, and taken in the net, Eccleſ. 9.12, 13. When the firſtborn were ſuddenly ſlain, there was a great cry, Exod. 12.29, 30.
Quis cladem illius noctis, Virgil. Aeneid. 2.quis funera fand…
Explicet, aut poſſit lachrymis aequare dolores?
2.Taken from the Mourners themſelves.
1. The ſins of ſubjects haſten their Princes deaths, 1 Sam. 12. ult. and eſpecially,
1. Idolatry.
2. Diſobedience to the Word, and Diſperſers of it.
2. The peoples loſſe, and this will appear by what chief Magiſtrates are repreſented in Scripture.
1. Captains to lead, 1 Sam. 9.16.
2. Sir John Heyward in the reign of King Edward the ſixth.Shields, Pſal. 47.9. Hoſ. 4.18. As the Protectour and Admiral were call'd King Edwards Shield and Target.
3. Heads, Num. 25.15. Judg. 11.8, 9, 11.
4. Heirs of Reſtreint, Judges 18.7. And Sauls Reigning, 1 Sam. 9.17. is called reſtreining, Heb. When theſe curbs and bits are gone, horſes turn wilde. People are ſons of Belial without a yoke; when theſe Sea banks are broken down, Libertiniſme will break in as a mighty torrent.
5 Breath of the peoples noſtrils, Lam. 4.20. Zedekiah being in priſon, as Calvin notes, his peoples breath is ſtopt: Motions ceaſe, when there is a ſuffocation.
6. Healers, Eſay 3.7. foreign Choſbeſch, foreign Chobeſch of foreign Chabaſch to tie and gird faſt.tying as a Chyrurgion and Phyſician, a Ruler, Iob 34.17. Becauſe Princes bind their Subjects by their Lawes. Patients dye, when Phyſicians give them over. The good Samaritane did cure, when the traveller was wounded, Luke 10.34.
7. Shepherds. Cyrus my Shepherd, Eſay 44 28. David from a Shepherd of ſheep, came to be a Shepherd of men, Pſal. 78.72. Homer calls Agamemnon, foreign, and the King doth rule by feeding, Matth. 2.6. foreign Now Chriſt ſpeaking of his death, and the diſperſion of his Diſciples, ſaid, Smite the Shepherd, and the ſheep will be ſcattered; Incuſtoditae diripiuntur oves,which ſentence is thrice ſpoken of in Scripture, Zech. 13.7. Matth. 26.31. Mark 14.27. After Pauls departing, grievous wolves would enter, not ſparing the flock, Acts 20.19.
8. Fathers. Agaſicles King of the Spartans had this Apothegme, That there is no more firme ground of eſtabliſhment, than when a King doth govern his ſubjects as a father his children; and ſaith Lavater, Princes are good parents; and if fathers die, children ſhould conſider the benefits they have enjoyed, and the many hardſhips and pains their parents have ſuſtained for them. Wicked Ioaſh weeping over dying Eliſha, call'd him, O my father, my father, the Charet of Iſrael, and the Horſe-men thereof. Yea, they are not only fathers, but nurſing fathers, Num. 11.12. Eſay 49.23.
9. Corner-ſtayes which binde the main building. If theſe are blown down, the houſe it ſelf will not ſtay long after, Eſay 19.13.
10. Builders, Pſal. 127.1.
11. Watchmen, ibid.
12. Eyes, Job 29.15. An eye with a Scepter was the Egyptian Hieroglyphick of a Princes Vigilance and Rule. If the eye be out, or dark, how great is that darkneſse? Matth. 6.23. Such a Land is a meer Polyphemus blinded.
13. Saviours, Obad. ver. 21. to which may be added three more.
14. Steerſ-men. A Prince *foreign. Polit.ſaith Plato, is as a Shipmaſter, who alwayes takes care both of the Ship and Sea-men.
15. Pilots to conduct ſafe in the midſt of Shelves, Rocks, Enemies and Tempeſts.
16. Husbands, a good Prince is maritus populi. Now if it be an Art of Arts, and Diſcipline of Diſciplines to rule men, as *Ars Artium, & Diſciplina Diſciplinarum regere hominem.Nazianzen ſpeaks; then to loſe ſuch a Ruler, is a loſſe of loſſes not eaſily expreſſed or repaired.
3. The peoples miſeries; an inundation of calamities came tumbling in on Joſiah's death; Jehoahaz his eldeſt ſonne was quickly depoſed, and the Land fined, 2 Chron. 36.3. Iehoiakim his ſecond ſon was fetter'd, ver. 5. The Temple was ranſackt, and the Veſſels were carried away, ver. 7. and Zedekiah his third ſon was impriſoned and blinded. Nebuchadnezzar and the King of the Chaldees cruſhed all; ſome were killed, others taken priſoners; Temple, City, Palaces and all the goodly Veſſels were deſtroyed, and the people were carried into captivity, and remained in Babylon ſeventy years. The death of a Prince ſaith Charles the fifth, is as the Suns Eclipſe, which uſually portends commotions and perturbations of State ſome time after; and this made Chriſt turn himſelf and ſpeech to the daughters of Ieruſalem not to weep for him, but for themſelves and children: foreſeeing a terrible ſtorme coming on the State after his deceaſe, Luke. 23.27, 28. — ſaith the Prophet Ieremy, chap. 50.17. the Paſtor being away, Iſrael is a ſcattered ſheep, the Lyons have driven him away: Firſt, the King of Aſsyria hath devoured him; and laſt, this Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon hath broken his bones.
3. Taken from the Act of Mourning.
1. It teſtifies love, John 11.35, 36. Jeſus wept at the death of Lazarus, then ſaid the Jews, behold how he loved him!
2. Its reſtrictive of envy, reproach and ſlander, John 11.21, 36. The people beholding the ſad Tragedy of Chriſts death, in all its Acts, ſmote their breaſts, Luke 23.48. *Gratia major eſt cùm hominibus tanta reverentia incutitur, ut agnitis criminibus, Chriſtum jam colunt quem bactenus irriſerunt.The grace is greater, and more remarkable, when ſo much reverence is ſtruck in men, that acknowledging their ſins, they now love Chriſt, whom before they ſcorned, ſaith Aretius; and indeed the dead move more compaſſion, than when they have been living. Lycurgus the great Law-giver more prevailed with the Lacedemonians when he was dead, than when he was alive: Julius Caeſar wept at the ſight of dead Alexander: and living Alexander ſtartled at the Tombe of Cyrus: The Deeds and Trophies of Miltiades did affect Themiſtocles; and of Hercules, Theſeus: and Stephen Gardiner Biſhop of Wincheſter, when he had chop't off the head of Thomas Lord Cromwel Earle of Eſsex by his own Engine, (ſaith Speed) yet when he was dead, ſeeing the general Mourning, did wiſh (when it was too late) that Cromwel were alive again. Even ſuch praiſe the dead which are already dead, in the ſpeech of the Royal Preacher, Eccleſ. 4.2.
3. It is impulſive, inducing others to ſympathize and condole, John 11.16.33. Si vis me flere dolendum —; tears of friends draw on the tears of enemies and neuters, Gen. 50.3, 11. The Egyptians mourned for Jacob, and the name of the place was called ABEL MIZRAIM, the mourning of the Egyptians. Even the daughters of the Nations ſhall lament, Ezek. 32.16. The wicked Prophet mourned over the man of God ſlain by a Lyon, 1 King. 13.29.
1. Uſe is of Information.
1. 1. Uſe.Learn the Antiquity of Funerals; though the Rule of Auguſtine muſt be often minded, namely *Curatio Funeri…, conditio ſepulturae, Pompa exequiarum magis ſunt vivorum ſalatia, quam ſubſidia mortuorum. l 2. de curâ pro mortuis.the over-ſeeing of the Funeral, the nature of the Burial, and the Pomps of Exequies, are rather the comforts of the living, than the ſubſidies and ſuccours of the dead.
2. It is a bleſſing for Princes and others, to dye lamented, and to have (as we ſay) Chriſtian Burial; as 1 Kings 14.13. Jer. 34.4, 5. but otherwiſe a curſe, Eſay 14.18, 19, 20. Jer. 16.6. chap. 25.23. Ezek. 23.13. ſeen in Jehoiakim the ſecond ſon of this Joſiah, Jer. 22 18, 19. They ſhall not lament for him, ſaying, Ah my brother, or ah ſiſter: they ſhall not lament for him, ſaying, ah Lord, or ah his glory. He ſhall be buried with the burial of an Aſſe, drawn and caſt forth beyend the gates of Jeruſalem. Hunc nemo lachrymis decorat, neque funera fletu.
3. The ſpecial honour done to Joſiah at his inhumation. Marcellus had ſix hundred Herſes, and Sylla ſix thouſand Herſes to attend his Herſe; and the Ethiopians when their King was dead, would deprive themſelves of life, as a glorious teſtimony of their love and friendſhip. And all Judah and Jeruſalem ſeem to be but one common Herſe to honour the Herſe of their Noble and Religious Prince.
See the Honour done to him.
1. He was buried in Mauſolaeo, as reads Hierom, the burning place of Kings, taken from that great and regal ſtructure Queen Artemiſia built for Mauſolus her husband King of Caria, which was accounted one of the ſeven wonders of the world. He was buried in one of the Sepulchres; Notat ſumptuoſiſimum, & pulcherrimum, ſaith Vatablus, a moſt ſumptuous and fair Tombe.
2. By the Mourners.
1. In General. All the Inhabitants of Judah and Jeruſalem; all his ſubjects paid their laſt and unenforced tribute, even that of tears.
2. In eſpecial.
1. Jeremiah is recorded to be the chief Mourner. For he,
1. Compoſed the Funeral Verſes, which were not his Threnod, or Lamentations bound up in your Bibles next to Jeremiahs Propheſie, as Jonathan, Joſephus, Hugo, Abubenſis. Lyra, the Hebrews, and others do imagine: for Calvin, and Cornelius à Lapide underſtand it of Zedekiah Joſiahs third ſonne, who was impriſoned, and in whoſe dayes the greateſt part of the threatned ſtorme and deſolation fell.
2. He foreſaw that the Guardian of Religion, and Diſcipline being removed, moſt ſad confuſions of opinions, manners, and worſhip would enſue.
3. With great grief of heart had he experience of the diſſimilitude between the father and children; and as Joſiah had eighteen years cheriſhed him as his Patron (yea as his Father) yet his degenerated ſonnes ſported at the good Prophets troubles; ſo Strigelius.
2. The Chorus, which was to carry on the Solemnity; and the Jewes were ſo skill'd in lamentations, that the Greeks do hire them to crie at their Funerals, ſaith *— plorat Uberibus ſemper lachrymu, ſemperque paratis In ſtatione ſuâ, atque expectantibus illam Quo jubeat manere modo.— Juvenal. Satyr. 6.Juvenal.
3. The Chronicle of all his deeds. In perpetuam rei memoriam: Thus they who honour God, them will God both in life and death honour.
2. Uſe is of Reproof, condemning,
1. Such who are ſenſeleſſe, as when King Uzziah died, the people were dull, Iſa, 6.1, 10.— They have ſtricken me ſhalt thou ſay, and I was not ſick; they have beaten me, and I felt I knew it not, Prov. 23.35. Evil men underſtand not judgment, Prov. 28.5. Iſa. 57.1.
2. Such who triumph at the death of godly Princes. It is obſerved by the Hiſtorian, That none rejoyced at the death of Hannibal but Rogues; even that Hannibal who was an inſtructed enemy againſt Rome from nine years old, inſomuch that when he was Adult, Hannibal ad Portas, put all the Inhabitants to an afright, as Senacherib throwing his fire-balls. The ſinners in Sion were afraid, ſaying, who among us ſhall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us ſhall dwell with everlaſting burning? Iſa. 33.14. The truth is, Though our Oliver of ſpreading Fame did bear the Olive of Peace in his Name, yet his heart and actions were at warre with Rome; and no marvel then that Papiſts, as the daughters of the Philiſtins, and uncircumciſed at the death of Saul and Jonathan, do ſo much triumph, 2 Sam. 1.20. Many laughed, ſaith Levater, (on my Text) not lamented, as we may collect from Jeremiah, and Zephaniah, becauſe they hoped Idolatry would be reſtored.
There be three ſorts who now rejoyce.
1. Malignants. And
2. Debauched perſons, as Panders, Trepanners, Hectors, Fidlers, and the ſcum of the people. And
3. Deſpiſers of Dignities,
Becauſe the ſword did hew the firſt.
His Lawes did ſcourge the ſecond; And
His clemency did unboot the third.
And it is but the truth of the Prediction of our departing Lord and Maſter, Joh. 16.20. Ye ſhall weep, and lament, but the world ſhall rejoyce; ye ſhall be ſorrowfull, but your ſorrow ſhall be turned into joy, at the Maſculine birth of a travelling womb the Scene ſhall be changed, Iſa. 65.13, 14.
3. Such who erre in mourning.
Firſt, In Defect
1. Who mourn hypocritically, as Herod for John, and Iſhmael Gedaliah, Jerem. 41.6. For often in Funerals ſaith Lavater, many diſſemble ſorrow.
Ille Dolet verè, Qui ſine veſte Dolet.
It is ſtoried of the late King Charles, Eſquire Saunderſons Chronicle.contrary to former Preſidents, that he in perſon attended the Herſe of his father, as the chiefeſt mourner. But the nakedneſſe of his fathers grave puts the queſtion, Whether that action (in it ſelf imitable, and commendable) were not a a piece of Court-policy to ſtill the ſhrill clamour about his fathers death, rather than a teſtimony either of the truth, or exceſſe of his own love, or ſorrow.
2. Who mourn cuſtomarily, as the daughters of Iſrael the Receſſe of Iephthah's daughter, Iudges 11.39. and *— …los erudicre ſuos.the mourning women, who ſchoole their eyes a lamentation. Theſe Chriſt diſmiſſed, Matthew 9.23.24. *Martyroleg lom. 1 pag 493.A Text Maſter Thorpe a godly Miniſter and Martyr did uſe againſt Arundel Arch-biſhop of Canterbury in the Reigne of Henry the fourth, to overthrow Organs, and Church-muſick. Many lay no more to heart the death of publick perſons, than children the death of a father, or mother, if they can have comfits, though they quickly feele to their reall grief afterwards, that they had ſuch a father, and ſuch a mother.
3. Who mourn profanely, carowſing, ſwearing, and as it were dancing about the dead mans grave. Said Eſau in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand, then will I ſlay my brother Iacob, Gen. 27.41. King Marres was ſo profane, that he bewailes his Crow, ſaith Aelian; the Lady her Dogge, ſaith Martial, and Craſsus his Lamprey no leſſe than a ſonne, and built a Sepulchre, ſaith Sandys. Some there be ſo wicked, as to lament the death of beaſts, fiſh, and fowle, more than they would the death of the beſt, and moſt uſeful Chriſtians.
Such was the ridiculous profaneſſe of the Magaveres, that at the burial of the dead, they wrapped the dead body in Holly twigs, binding the neck and legs together, putting it into a hole, covering it with ſtones, and ſetting on the heap ſome ridiculous thing or other, and ſo without any more ado departed.
Secondly, In exceſſe.
1. Who mourn immoderately: Jacob ſurmiſing his ſonne Ioſeph to be rent in pieces, rent his cloathes, and put ſackcloth on his loynes, and mourned for his ſonne many dayes: and all his ſons, and all his daughters roſe up to comfort him: but he refuſed to be comforted, and he ſaid; for I will go down into the grave unto my ſonne mourning; thus his father wept for him, Gen. 37.33, 34, 35. Rachel weeping for her children, refuſed to be comforted, becauſe they were not, Ierem. 31.15. And Lyra faith, it was a tradition among the Jews, that Rachels Tombe did lament and weep to the Iſraelites paſſing by there, when they were taken captives by the Babylonians, and lead to Babylon. And Hierom reports of Paula, that ſhe would grieve at the death of her husband, and children, that ſhe was alwayes like to die for ſorrow. Now the Apoſtle diſſwades from this, 1 Theſ. 4.13, 14. By believing the great Articles of the Reſurrection.
*Baal Turim.The Hebrews gather from Gen. 23.2. Becauſe the letter Caph is leſſe than all the reſt; Abraham wept but a little for Sarab; not as if he did care for her but a little, but to ſhew moderation: though the death of publick perſons calls for a greater ſtream of tears, than the death of others, yet there is ſtill to be obſerved a due proportion. The Turks mourn in white, and but a little ſaith Sandys. The Egyptians mourn too much.
2. Who mourn deſperately, as Sauls Armourbearer ſeeing his Maſter fall, falls on his own Sword, and kills himſelf, 1 Sam. 31.5. and the Ethiopians ſeeing their King dead, ſlay themſelves. The ſpeech of Thomas to his fellow-diſciples, let us alſo go that we may dye with him, John 11.16. meaning dead Lazarus, ſavoured much more of true affection, than regulated zeal. God that made a Law that none ſhould kill another, made no ſuch proviſo, that any ſhould be Felo de ſe, and kill himſelf.
3. Read Buxtorf. Synag. c. 35. de ſepultura mortuorum Judaeo rum.Who mourn ſuperſtitiouſly, Jerem. 16.5, 6. Levit. 19.28. Ye ſhall not make any cuttings in your fleſh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you, as the Arabians, and other Heathens. The womens weeping for Tammuz, Ezek. 8.14, 15. whether it were an idolatrous Prophet, or Adonis, or Oſiris King of Egypt, or a beaſt, or the Sunne in ſome figure; the lamentation was a great abomination, and this their wailing was to be bewailed.
So that the Rules of mourning muſt be theſe. It muſt be 1. Real; 2. Affectionate; 3. Chriſtian; 4. Proportionable; 5. Charitable and Merciful; and 6. Scriptural, according to the Canon of the Word.
The third and laſt Uſe is of Exhortation
To quicken us to be affected with the ſtroak of Gods hand, and to grieve for the death of the thrice Illuſtrious Oliver of BLESSED Memory. BLESSED.The People were not ſenſible of King Uzziahs death; Evil men underſtand not judgment, but they that ſeek the Lord underſtand all things, Prov. 28.5. For all this I conſidered in my heart, even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wiſe, and their workes are in the hand of God, Eccleſ. 9.1. Woe is me ſaith Micah, chap. 7.2. The good man is periſhed out of the earth: And to provoke all the people in the three Nations to mourn, let them,
1. Conſider His Dignity; 1. Motive.who was raiſed up to the higheſt place in government, and lifted into the Throne by the prayers of Gods people; and not by the ambitious and uſurped lift of ſelf-exaltation, as *The rebellious exalt themſelves. Pſ. 66.7. The Rule of Diogenes was this, foreign — THOU muſt be impudent and bold, and THOU muſt ſlander Kings and private perſons; for ſo it ſhall come to paſſe that all will caſt their eyes upon THEE, and judge THEE Valiant. Samoſatenſis. tom. 1. p. 366.ſelf-exalting Diogenians Stentorize. In which ſtation (abſit invidia verbo) no Prince did behave himſelf more unbyaſſedly, religiouſly, and prudentially than he.
2. Conſider his worth; being a man every way fitted and furniſhed for the diſcharge of ſo great a work, and ſo high a calling. Eminent he was,
1. In his Juſtice commutative and diſtributive; puniſhing few, and rewarding many beyond their deſervings with life and liberty, who had prodigiouſly forfeited both.
Et piger ad poenas Princeps, ad praemia Velox, Quique dolet quoties cogitur eſse ferox.
Walking by that golden Rule, 2 Sam. 23.3. He that ruleth over men, muſt be juſt, ruling in the fear of God.
2. In his Religion; being a man mighty in Scripture, enjoying a praying Spirit, a Spirit of communion with God, love to all the Saints, and living by faith in all his actions; Making the intereſt of Chriſt his own, and in his practice aſſerting the poſition of *Non fundatur Dominium niſi in Imagine Dei.Hugo, Dominion is not founded but in Gods Image. Animating and ſetling learned and godly Miniſters; extending his beams (as Charles the fifth notes of a good Ruler) like the Sunne even to the dark places, and providing an Act to confirme the titles of Miniſters; and ſhewing to the Miniſtry in general (ſo ſetled) ſo great affection, as emulatory to the Miniſtry of all the Nations round about us: endeavouring and conſulting an expedient to cement both Miniſters and Profeſſors of the claſſical and congregational way, the grief for whoſe diviſions lay heavy on his ſpirit till the laſt; ſympathizing with the diſtreſſed Proteſtants in Peidmont, Poland, and other places, who reſorted to him, as affrighted chickens to the Hens wing for ſhelter, and eſteemed him the Protectour General of the Proteſtant Religion: patronizing the Dutch, French and Italian Congregations in their priviledges and rites: paſſing that that full and admirable bill for the Celebration of the Lords day: and like another Conſtantine when Religion was languiſhing, even at the laſt gaſp, was her Phyſician, who did adminiſter a ſeaſonable reſtorative, if not miraculouſly work a reſurrection.
3. In his kindneſses to the Nation; for what Tertullus ſaid of the Governour, Acts 24.2. might be ſaid of him, that we did enjoy great quietneſſe, and very worthy deeds. Witneſſe his zeal and wiſdome in aſſwaging that purple deluge of Engliſh and Hollandiſh blood: he was the Dove with the Olive branch, who did not only declare Peace, but effect it. He was the true Chobeſch, the binder up of our wounds, and ſtopper of that bloody iſſue of both Nations; and did not only renew friendſhip with the Netherlanders, but with France, Portugal, and Swethland alſo. Witneſſe his diſciplining of the Army; his encouraging of Trade and Merchandizing; his general care for the preſervation of the whole; the timous preventing of Hoſtilities abroad, and the ſpeedy cruſhing of Cockatrices in the egge at home: his neglecting of a Crown when offered with many preſſive and expreſſive Parliamentary perſwaſions: his paſſing ſo many advantagious bills the laſt Parliament: Begun Anno 1656.his unſpeakable condeſcenſion to do the meaneſt offices for the welfare of unthankful men: inſomuch that he was pleaſed to acknowledge, that in the juncture of broyles, he did but execute the truſt of a Conſtable to keep all quiet; and what is Conſtabularius, but a ſtable-Groom to make unruly horſes tame, and ſtand together? foreign, ſaith *Ethio…ic.Heliodorus, the Prince did ſeem to ſerve; ſo that what an Italian Diſcourſer ſaid, there was never any State ſo ſwadled in its infancy as the Roman was by the firſt King, may be better ſaid of this Protector. And what *Pro Deiotare, multa ſunt tuae clementiae Monumenta, ſed maxime eorum incolumitates.Cicero ſaid of King Deiotarus, let me ſay of him, that truly many were the Monuments of his kindneſſe, but eſpecially this, the Peoples ſafety and preſervations.
4. In his valour from the Garriſon of Ely to the laſt Worceſter fight; his faith many times ſubdued before he ſtruck a ſtroak; and his name was more terrible than that of *Turcomaſtix.Scanderbeg.
— Plus nominis horror
Quam tuus enſis aget. —
When England, Scotland and Ireland were all in a blaze, he was the Ranſomer of the Nations, and the common extinguiſher and quench-coal. The Army at Marſton-moore were put into a quaking ague but at the report of his being in hurt and in danger. At Tredagh he ſtood himſelf in the breach, before the mouth of the thundering Cannon; where gallant Colonel Caſtle and others were ſlain. He was the long Parliaments battle-axe on every turn; as Edgar Etheling, he was Englands darling; and the Parliament could be no leſſe without him, than Henry the eighth could be without the aſſiſtance of Thomas Cromwel Earle of Eſſex, the root of this Glorious Branch.
He was called Malleus Monachorum in ſpecie, Martyrolog.but Renowned Oliver was Malleus Inimicorum, the mawle of enemies in the very genus: and if the Lord Protector in the Reign of King Edward the ſixth, purchaſed ſo much honour in one battle at Muſcleborough field in the year 1548. then much more were the laurels of him who diſputed ſo many hot battels with ſucceſſe at Preſton, Marſton-moore, Dunbar, Worceſter, Nazby, &c.
Quae Regio in terris noſtri non plena laboris!
So that I may ſpeak of him what was ſpoken of Charles the great, that he was a good Prince, and a valiant Souldier; and ſuch was his valour, foreign.that as Scipio by Rome, and Camillus by Fabius Maximus, ſo he was envied living, and is now admired being dead.
— Sublatum ex oculis quaerimus invidi.
*foreign. In Ajace.As Sophocles ſpeaks, men never prize a mercy but when it is gone; and ſaith Solomon, Prov. 17.16. There is a price in the hand of a fool, and he hath no heart to it; and one thing more I cannot bury in ſilence; he alwayes gave very honourable termes and articles of war, and was as punctual in making them good; which rendred himſelf in the eyes of the vanquiſhed and the world truly honourable.
*Sparguntur in omues, In te mixta fluunt; & quae Diviſa bea…s Efficiunt, collectatenes. — Claridian.Thoſe lines of Honour which by refractions ran diſperſedly in others, in him were knit up as their natural centre: and what made others happy in diviſion, was in him a Colledge of vertues ſolemnly met and ſeated.
5. In his Prudence, and mannaging of Affaires both Military and Civil, as Pliny ſaith of Mauricius the Emperour, *Vir grav…, prulea…, multis experimentis eruditus, & qui futura poſſit ex praeteritis providere. Epiſtol.he was a man grave, prudent, taught by many experiences, and who could fore-ſee things to come, by what was paſt. As for Civil Affairs, he had with Veſpaſian learned what was the overthrow of the Lutiniſt Nero, in winding the pins of Government ſometimes too high, and ſometimes letting them down too low: and *Chytraeus in Herodotum.that the deſtruction of Aſtyages, Croeſus, and Xerxes was cruelty, pride and ambition; and that the eſtabliſhment of the Common-wealth of Cyrus, Dioces, Darius, Miltiades, Themiſtocles, Pauſanias and others, was by prudence: he did as Charles the fifth ſaid of a good Ruler, like Saturne the higheſt planet move ſlowly, doing all things with deliberation *Ne quid reſpublica caperet detrim…mi., that the Common-wealth might take no harme. And as for Military Affairs, his prudence was not inferiour, both in the Diſcipline of the Army, and in his frequent Orations at the heads of Regiments before engaging to encourage them both againſt the fear of the enemy and death; Nulla vox humana exiſtima tur dulciùs He rodotores maximas narrare, adeò ut Muſae à veteribus fingantur ore Herodoti eſſe locutae.as if every Muſe had given books to this Herodotus. No mans voice is thought to relate great things more ſweetly than Herodotus, ſo that the Muſes were feigned by the Ancients to have ſpoken in his mouth; of whom thus Friſius ſings; foreign.
6. In his diligence about the guards at night; inſomuch that about the evening dusk he would ride Incognito as a private Souldier to take a view of the Guards and the Souldiers duty. His preſence like that of Europus King of Macedonia did animate them; and the ſpeech of Sulpitius Galba to his was ſtill in reciprocation, Ego veſter, & vos mei, I am yours, and you are mine.
7. In his love and affability, as was evident in addreſſes to him, as I my ſelf was an eye-witneſſe at Barkhampſted 1647. when the head-quarters were there. That what *Omnes ſemper in Deiotaro virtutes, ſed praecituè ſingularis & admiranda frugalitas; fuit fortis, juſtus, ſeverus, gravis, magnanimus, largus, beneficus, liberalis. Hae ſunt Regiaelaudes.Tully ſaid of King Deiotarus, may be to him applied, all theſe vertues were eminent in Deiotarus; but eſpecially his ſingular and admirable frugality, he was ſtrong, juſt, ſevere, grave magnanimous, large, kind and liberal. Theſe, theſe are the Royal praiſes of the glorious Saint.
8. In his death, in that he died,
1. With much aſſurance as to himſelf, like holy Paul, 2 Tim. 4.7, 8. I have fought a good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, I have kept the faith; and though the Senate hath deſervedly adorned him dead with a Crown, and other Regal Enſignes, which living he refuſed, There is laid up for him a Crown of righteouſneſs, a Crown immarceſſible, 1 Pet. 5.4. Quarta Perennis.
Seneca as he lived vertuouſly, ſo he chearfully died with this verſe in his mouth, Vixi, & quem dederit curſum fortuna, peregi.
And as Friſius ſaid of Plato, foreign.he ſhined as the morning ſtarre amongſt the living, and dying, the evening ſtar amongſt the dead.
And though he had been in deaths often, and faced death as often as he fought battles, and though his death had been attempted by Sundercombe, and others, yet he died not a violent, but a natural death, in his own perſonal peace, and peace of his Kingdomes, being full of dayes, and lies now in the bed of honour: and on the third day of September, 1658. he received his Writ of eaſe from all his more than Herculean labours, which had been a day one year after another, viz. Anno 1650. & Anno 1651. rubrick't with two remarkable victories at Dunbar and Worceſter, as Antipater died on the ſame day of his riſing.
2. With much grief to others. Octavian and Titus Veſpaſian were not more lamented; of the former it was ſaid, Would to God he had not been born, or never died; and of the latter, that he was *Amor, & Victor, & deliciae humani generis.the Love, Conquerour and delights of mankinde, to whom Speed compares our Henry the fifth. And ſuch was the lamentation of the Emperour Severus, that *Aut non naſci, aut non mori debaiſſe.the Senate of Rome ſaid, he ſhould either not be borne, or not die. Our Engliſh Senate much laments his death, of whom it may be ſaid, as of David, Acts 13.36. After he had ſerved his own generation, by the will of God he fell on ſleep. 1 Chron. 29.28. He died in a good old age, full of dayes, riches and honour, and Solomon his ſon reigned in his ſtead. On whom the Criticks made this Epitaph,
Here lies David, who when he was a boy
Slew Lyons and Bears;
In his middle age great Goliah;
When he was a little older, great enemies,
The Philiſtins;
And in his old age, overeame himſelf.
9. In his fame, — *Statius.Notum per ſaecula nomen. His memory as of the juſt is bleſſed, Prov. 10.4. and ſhall be an everlaſting foundation, ver. 25. whence the Rabbins in their quotations of any eminent Authour deceaſed, uſually ſubjoyne this honourable commemoration▪ BENEDICTAE MEMORIAEN. or ſuch an one of bleſſed memory; Memoria ejus ſit in Benedictione. The righteous ſhall be in everlaſting remembrance, HAPPY.Pſal. 112.6. OLIVER of HAPPY MEMORY: this the ſecond motive.
3. Conſider your own ſins. Our ſins have haſtned the Protectours removal; as unthankfulneſſe, pride, animoſities, avarice, formality and licentiouſneſſe. Theſe were the ague fits which have expelled his breath, and our obduracy the ſtone which hath ſunk him to the grave. And we may ſay, as Bradford ſaid of the death of King Edward the ſixth King of England, Our ſins made holy Oliver die.
4. Conſider our own loſſe. The loſſe of a General, is a general loſſe. The loſſe of him, is a complexion, or rather a complication of loſſes. We have loſt a Captain, a Shield, the Head, an Heire of Reſtraint, the Breath of our Noſtrils, an Healer, a Shepherd, a Father, and a Nurſing Father, a Corner-Stone, a Builder, a Watchman, an Eye, a Saviour, a Steerſ-man and Rector, a Pilot, and a Common Husband.
5. Laſtly conſider our miſeries which we deſerve; even the miſeries which befell Judah and Jeruſalem after Joſiah's death, in the dayes of Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, deſolation of Cities, Temple, Families, and a Captivity ſtricter, and longer than a Babylonian; which the Lord in mercy turn from us, and turn us to him by true and unfeigned repentance. O England repent, repent.
And now conſidering all theſe incentives, who can refrain from weeping?
Quis enim tam triſtia fando.
Myrmidonum, Dolopúmve, aut Diri Miles Ʋlyſsei
Temperet à lachrymis?
And if any ſhould ask me what is the cauſe of ſo much mourning? I anſwer with Ambroſe telling the cauſe of his grief to a friend for the deceaſe of an eminent perſon, demaunding the queſtion, *Quia di ficile eſſet ſimilem ei invenire.Becauſe it would be a hard thing to finde one like to him. Saith God of Solomon, 1 Kings 3.12. There was none like him, neither after him ſhould ariſe any like him.
Anglia,
Nec primum ſimilem viſa es, nec habere ſequentem.
He hath wonne the Palme, Victory, hath ſetled the Olive, Peace, and hath left his friends to hang *Plectra dolo retacent, muta dolore lyra eſt.their Harps upon the Willow.
Truly I may ſay his Deeds deſerve a full, diſtinct, and faithful Chronicle, which were ſo ſuperlative, that a ſucceeding generation of no little faith would ſcarce ſuppoſe them credible: yet of him I may dare ſay, as was ſaid of the Royal Princeſſe, Prov. 31.29. Many Princes have done vertuouſly, but Renowned OLIVER hath excelled them all.
But here an Aſthma ſtops me; for with *Si omnia corporis mei membra verterentur in lacbryma….holy Hierom, if all the members of my body were converted into tears, yet in this ſhort variety of words, I fear I ſhould have ſilenced more than what is ſpoken; and with *Silere meliùs putem, quâm parum dicere. Saluſt.him of Carthage, better may I judge to ſay nothing more, than ſpeak a little.
And therefore here die away my mourning pen, and let thy Manumitter ſob the reſt, — foreign, eaſing his heart-bound grief by weeping forth this Epitaph;
HIC JACET TOTIƲS ANGLIAE, SCOTIAE,
ET HIBERNIAE INDƲPERATOR,
ET
TOTIƲS CHRISTIANISMI MIRACƲLƲM,
OLIV ARIƲS.
But now methinks I hear the treading feet, and the reviving voice of his Royal Succeſſor ſaying, Why make you this ado, and weep? hath not my father of admired fame by the advice of Parliament provided a ſucceſſion to prevent the Rivalry of all pretenders, and ten thouſand woes?
O my Lord, you are the Honorius of our deceaſed Theodoſius, his eldeſt ſon, the rightful heir; you do patrize and walk in your fathers ſteps, you are entred into the Harveſt of your fathers dear-bought labours, and may you and yours reap the ſweetneſſe of them to many generations.
But yet give me leave to vent theſe Votes, and pray, 2. Directions to prevent miſeries after the Protectours death.1. For your Highneſs; That the God of Counſels would direct you, your Council, Armies, and the whole Land, that you may be a father of thouſands of millions, and that your ſeed may poſſeſſe the gate of them that hate you; that Jacobs legacy to Joſeph may be your portion, Gen. 49.26. Surpaſſing bleſſings may crown your Head, that the advice of your languiſhing father on his death bed may not be forgotten;
Tu Civem, Patremque geras; lu conſule cunctis,
Nec tibi; nec tua te moveant, ſed publica vota;
As Theodoſius counſelled Honorius, That in the ſtrength of Jeſus Chriſt *foreign. Plutarch., you would rouze and beſtir your ſelf; for without Chriſts aſſiſtance, the government of three Nations would quickly ſink you.*Grande opus, & ſub quo ſudaret Olympifer Atlas,…
— A work ſo great
Would make Olympus-bearing-Atlas ſweat.
And that the wilde dream of raving Porphyrius in Gildas, Britannia eſt fertilis Provincia Tyrannorum, may by your godly and prudential Regency be prov'd a lye.
2. That your Subjects would ſtudy loyalty, peace, and love, that you may not be aſhamed of them, nor they afraid of you; and that they may be as willing upon all occaſions to ſerve you; as Ittai, and his ſervants, David, 2 Sam. 15.15, 21. *foreign—Said Ignatius in an Epiſtle to the Smyrneans, The people ought to honour the Prince; for there is none more excellent and near to God in the Univerſity of things than he. And
3. That both you, and all might mind our own mortalities, while we are called upon to bewail the death and ſickneſſes of others; Said Elihu to Job, chap. 36.18. Becauſe there is wrath, beware leſt he take thee away with his ſtroak. But here I ſhall conclude with the vote of Tertullian to Trajan the Emperour, wiſhing your Highneſſe *Vitam prolixam, Imperium ſecurum, Domum tutam, Exercitus fortes, Senatum fidelem, Populum probum, & Orbem quietum.LONG LIFE, A SECURE REIGNE, A SAFE HOUSE, VALIANT FORCES, A FAITHFUL SENATE, A GOOD PEOPLE, AND A QUIET WORLD.
FINIS.
End of the text · George Lawrence, A Good Prince Bewailed (1658)