Sermon Upon Psalm 18, Text – Quotation
IT IS WRITEN IN THE BOOKE OF Psalmes, the eighteenth Psalme, the fortiseuenth verse, & the rest that follow.
47 The Lord liueth, and my blessed strength: therefore let the God of my saluation be exalted.
48 The mighty God, that geueth me reuengementes, and bringeth people vnderunder me.
49 That deliuereth mee from mine enemies: yea, thou hast exalted mee aboue them that rose vp against me, thou hast deliuered mee from the cruel man.
50 Therefore will I confesse thee, ô Lord, among the Gentiles, and I will sing vntounto thy name:
51 He geueth great deliuerances to his king, and sheweth merciemercy to his anointed; to Dauid, and to his seede for euer.
IT hath beene a godly custome of the faithfull, although not obserued so customably alwaies as by aPhil. 4.6. Col. 3.17. 1. Thes. 5.18.the Rules of faieth it ought, that when they receiued any special benefit, either in atteining to things commodious for them, or in auoiding of discōmodities: they lifted vp their voices to the autor of it, the Father of mercies, the god of al cōfort, and did honour him with giuing special thankes for it. Melchisedek, king of Salem, a man of power & credit in the land of Canaan, had not so great cause to care for the state of Abram and Lot, two strangers in the land. Yet when Abram had rescued Lot being taken, & had spoiled the spoilers: Melchisedek brake forth into his praise who gaue the victory, bGen. 14.20.Blessed be the high God, which hath deliuered thine enemies into thy hand. The state of the Israëlites touched Moses neerer: how much the lesse is it to be marueiled at if hee thought it his duty to cExod. 15.1.magnify the Lord for guiding them out of Egypt through the red Sea, and drowning Pharao with his host. Though that the children of Israel themselues, an vnchankful, murmuring, and stifnecked nation, should ioyne therein with Moses, all, both men and women: it is a president woorthy to be noted to the shame of Christians, if in greater measure of the grace of God wee shewe lesse gratitude for his graces. The feasting and ioy that the dEst. 9.17.Iewes kept for their owne deliueraunce out of the snares of Haman, and for his destruction with the partakers of his conspiracie, might seeme to bee onelyonly a profane reioycing as worldly minded men commonly do vse at their good successes. But, that it was holy & seasoned with a sacrifyce, such a sacrifice as lawfully they might offer there where then they were dispersed, the circumstance of sending partes vntounto the poor, wt eDeuer. 16.14.precepts & fNeh. 8.11.examples of daies in like sort kept holy to the Lord doth argue. We are assembled at this present, fathers and brethren beloued in the Lord, to giuegive him most humble and most harty thankes for his great & singular goodnes shewed vntounto vsus in discouering the traiterous intent of graceles wretches, who vilanously conspired to take away the life of our gracious Queene (whom God long preserue,) and to kindle flames of vprores through the realme, to the vtter wasting of her faithfull subiectes. O that wee had the harts to praise him for it with the like religious affection of spirite in zeale and sincerity, as Melchisedek did for Lot recouered by Abram, as Moses & the Israëlites for the Egyptian yoke broken, as the Iewes for their safety and the destruction of their enemies. Sure we hauehave greater causes so to doe, then any of them had. For Lot was but one, and that a meane man: nor much indangered more then of losse of libertie. Here a most excellent Princesse was in hazard, not of libertie, but of life: with God knoweth how many righteous Lots besides. And the bodily coiles which the Israëlites endured in Egypt vnderunder the taske-masters that Pharao placed ouer them, were nothing in comparison of the spiritual bondage of the Antichristian tyrantes, to whom, might these Egyptian impes hauehave had their willes, we should (it is likely) hauehave beene most lamentably enthralled. Neither hath the Lord so mercifully deliuered vsus out of the Lyons mouth at this time onelyonly, but at sundry other heretofore often: that the Iewes could not bee so much beholding to him for that of Hamā, who did not liue to put them more then once in danger. Wherefore that wee may accept the more thankfully and dutifully esteeme of his inestimable goodnesse, in sauing our gratious Queene and vsus her subiectes from so great, so many so imminent mischiefs: I hauehave thought good to take for the ground of mine aduertisement and exhortation these woordes, which you hauehave heard, written by the godly Prince and Prophet Dauid in the eighteenth Psalme, a song of thankes geuing, which he made whē the Lord had deliuered him out of the hand of all his enimies and out of the hand of Saul. For so is it noted in the title thereof, and manifested farder by the course of the storie in the second of Samuel, g2. Sam. 22.1.where the same is wholly registred againe wel-nigh word for word, as a most worthy and memorable monument to bee thought vponupon eft soones of all posterity, that on like fauour receiued of the lord they might shew themselues alike grateful to him. In these wordes therefore comprehending brieflie the purport and drift of the whole Psalme by way of conclusion, two thinges are recommended to our considerations: one is the benefit of God in deliuering Dauid from his enemies; the other, the thankfulnes of Dauid vntounto God for that deliuerance. The benefit of God in deliuering Dauid is signified by that he saith, The Lord liueth. For he meaueth not that the Lord liueth in respect of his beeing, his euerlasting essence, in which sense notwithstanding hAct. 14.15. Reu. 10.6. & 15.7.hee is said to liue, and to liue i1. Tim. 6.1.only: but in respect of his woorkes, his effects to Dauid ward, in whose preseruation he sheweth that hee liueth, and saueth his, and ruleth all thinges by his eternal prouidence. Which meaning Dauid openeth in that he adioyneth, and my blessed strēgth: calling god his strength, his fortresse, his rock, his blessed strength and foretresse, because his life, his safetie, his wel-fare is mainteined by the might and mercy of the liuing God. As in kPsal. 18.2.the beginning he testified also: The Lord is my rocke, and my fortresse, and my deliuerer, my God, my strength in whom I will trust, my shield, & the horne of my saluation, my refuge. And this is the benifite of God vntounto Dauid. The thankfulnes of Dauid vntounto God foloweth: Therefore let the God of my saluation be exalted. Wherein, by the way, the cause of his thankfulnes, to weet, the benefit, is repeated. For though in our toung the name of saluation is by common vse referred to the blisseful state of life eternal in the Kingdome of heauen, whereto the scripturephrase doth likewise oft refer it: yet is it applied in 1…. Heb. foreignthe Prophets language heere to bodily safety and temporal preseruation of this present life. As 2foreignsaluations also are lvers. 51.afterwarde mentioned, or as our English translation interpreteth it) deliucrances: and mvers. 3.before, he set downe the general proposition with the same worde, I cal vponupon the lord who is worthy to be praised, & I am 3foreignsafe from mine enimies. vntounto this author then of his safety he rendreth praise and honour: and that in such sort as may stir vp others thereunto withal, that God by the thanks-giuing of more may be more glorified, let him be exalted. To the perfourmance of the which dutie that he may geue a sharper edge and hotter zeale to himselfe and others: he amplifieth and openeth more particularly both the cause of the duty, and the duty it selfe, in the verses following. Touching the cause of the duty, he saith, The mightie God, that giueth mee reuengementes, and bringeth people vnderunder me, that deliuereth mee from mine enemies: yea, thou hast exalted mee aboue them that rose vp against mee, thou hast deliuered me from the cruel man. A summary but pithy rehearsal of the specialties of the fauour doone him by God against n1. Sam. 18. & 19. & 23. & 24. & 26.Saul, against o2. Sam 2. & 3 & 4.Sauls sonne Ish…bosheth, against the p2. Sam. 5. & 8.Philistines, the q2. Sam. 8.Moabites, the r2. Sam. 8. & 10Syrians, the s2. Sam 8. & 10. & 11.Ammonites, the t1. Sam. 30. & 2. Sam. 8.Amalekites, and the u2. Sam. 8. & Psal. 60.Idumaeans, against x2. Sam. 15. & 17. & 18.Absalom, against y2. Sam. 20.Sheba, with their rebellious complices of Israël and Iuda too. Of whem a great many were punished in iustice: z2. Sam. 4.8.the Lord auenging him, of some, by other mens handes; a2. Sam. 10.18. & 18.31.of some by his owne, as being armed thereunto with bRom. 13.4.the sworde of vengeance. The rest though their liues wer spared in mercy yet were they brought in awe and subiection vnderunder him. So himselfe, his enemies either not remaining or not remaining enemies, at the least not daring to practise their enmitie was deliuered from them. Yea, (which he vttereth more emphatically by turning of his speech to god) God did exalt him & aduance him higher then any of his aduersaries that rose vp against him, & deliuered him from Saul, who of long time pursued him most fiersly and put him oft in present daunger of his life, from the cruel, violent, *Heb. the mā of violences. 2. Sam. 22.49.the most violent man. Touching his duty whereupon, he addeth, Therefore will I confesse thee, ô Lord, among the Gentiles; and I wil sing vntounto thy name: he geueth great deliuerances to his king, and sheweth merciemercy to his anointed, to Dauid and to his seed for euer. To confesse the Lord, is to acknowledge him to be the autour & giuer of whatsoeuer good we hauehave: to sing vntounto his name, is with ioyfull melodie of voice to acknowledge it. Both these thinges doth Dauid vow that hee wil do: and therein will testify, euen before the Gentiles, that the Lorde, who made him king, and anointed him, doth geue him great deliuerances, and sheweth him mercy, nor only him, but his too, his seed, his posteritie and progenie for euer. The very literal sense of the which words doth import an excellent thankfulnesse in Dauid, that would yeeld such tokēs therof among the Gentiles, ePsal. 18.43.the heathens whō he had subdued: a more excellent goodnes and graciousnes in God, who raised him to roial state, and mightily preserued him in it, and ridde him out of many dangers, and shewed mercy still to him, yea to his ofspring also that should raigne after him. But al this is base in respect of that which the holy ghost in a spiritual meaning doth hereby signify and botoken. For Dauid was anointed king of the Iewes, made conquerour of Gentiles, cast into perils, troubles, paines of death, and by speciall grace againe deliuered from them, to the intent he might be a figure (as wee terme it) an image and picture, an historical picture, and a liuing image, that should resemble and represent the person of an other dEzck. 34.23. & 37.24.Dauid, eIer. 23.5. & 33.15.his sonne our Sauiour Christ. Which mistery fAct. 2.30.him self knowing as a Prophet, did write (by inspiration from God) sundry thinges, whereof the full and perfit accomplishment appeereth in Christ and his kingdome, as, gMat. 27.35. Mar. 12.10. Ioh. 2 17. & 19.28. Act. 4.25. & 13.33. Rom 15.3. Heb. 2.12. & 10.5.the scriptures teach vsus: though a thinne and slender performance of the same was before expressed and drawen out, as it were, by lineaments and shadowes of a type and figure in Dauid & his state. So the great deliuerāces and saluations temporal, geuen and assured to Dauid, and to his seed for euer after a sort, that is for long continuance of many yeares succession, did prefigure greater spiritual deliuerances, and saluations simply and absolutely eternal, which should be likewise giuen to Christ and to his hEsai. 53.10. Ier. 33.22.seede, that is, to iIoh. 1.12.the faithfull, the children of God whom k2. Cor. 5.20.Christ doth beget in his Church l1. Pet 1.23.by the immortall seede of his woorde. To mGen. 3.15.Christ and to his nRom. 16.20.seede is giuen the treading downe of the serpent, oReu. 12.7.the ouerthrow and victorie of Satan and his Angels. To p1. Co. 15. ver. 25.Christ and to qvers. 55.his seede is death quelled, the graue vanquished, the power of hel daunted, and all their enimies put to flight. To. rMat. 4.6.Christ and to sHeb. 1.14.his seede is tPsal. 91.12.a gard of Angels appointed for their safety, uHeb. 9.12. & 10.19.an entrance into Heauen opened, and xPsal. 16.11. Act. 2.28. Reu. 21, 4.the ioyes of life, of euerlasting solace, of endlesse rest, assured. Which most excellent mercies, deliuerances, saluations, as the Prophets commonly in the ende of their prophecies doo commend to men by figuratiue speeches of Israël, of Iuda, of Sion, of Ierusalem, & blessinges incident theretoo: so in this conclusion of his song of thankes doth Dauid ascend to them by the other, to shew himselfe grateful vntounto God for them. A proofe whereof we hauehave in the last woordes that he concludeth with. For therin he seemeth to respect the promise, that ySam. 7.12.the Lorde woulde set vp his seede after him, and stablish the throne of his kingdome for euer. Which the Angel Gabriel, sent to the Virgine Marie, expoundeth of Christ, telling her that zLuk. 1.32.God shal giuegive vntounto him the throne of his Father Dauid, and hee shall raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer, and of his kingdome shall be no end. And a farder proofe in the former clause touching his confessing of God among the Gentiles: cōsidering that S. Paul declareth the goodnes of Christ in aRom. 15.9.receiuing the Gentiles to his glory to be meant thereby. As if the holy Prophet had said that he would vse a newe and vnaccustomed thankfulnesse to God for his passing singular and vnspeakable benefits: neither would confesse him among the Iewes onelyonly, as then the faithful did according to their order of praying in the Temple; but among the Gentiles also in time to come, when they being called to the church of Christ should be made acquainted with his Psalms and Hymns, and learne to praise the Lorde with him. So that I may saie the same of these words, that on like occasion our Sauiour did of other, bLuk. 4.21.This day is the scripture fulfilled in your eares. Howbeit not only these words of this scripture are fulfilled this day: but the other too, that lay foorth the fauour of God vntounto his children in sauing his anointed. For what more commoditie did the Iewes receiue by King Dauids meanes, then we by our soueraine Lady Queen Elisabeths? What enimies, what dāgers, what deaths did he escape: from the like whereof the Lorde hath not as often, as woonderfully, preserued her Maiestie? The arke of the couenaunt, wherein cExod. 25.16.the testimonie was laid, wheron the merciemercy-seate was placed, from which dNumb. 7.89.the voice of God was hearde, at which e2. Sam. 6.2.his name was called vponupon, whereto f1. Chro. 13.3.they had not sought in the daies of Saul, g2. Sam. 6.12.King Dauid brought into his cittie: and caused h1. Chr. 15.16.the Leuites ioyfullie to play on instrumentes of musicke, and lift vp their voices at the bringing of it. Queene Elisabeth hath brought vsus the body and trueth of that whereof his ceremonies were but shadowes onlie, the free vse and Christian doctrine of the Gospell, the word of God, the holy Scriptures, the praiers and publike seruice of the highest, al in a language knowen to all: and hath mooued her Subiectes to receiue these means of their i1 Cor. 14.19.instruction and k2. Tim 3.15.saluatiō with lCol. 3.16.Psalmes, and hymnes, and spiritual songs, singing with a grace in their harts vntounto the Lord. Dauid to those heauenly treasures added earthly, & enriched his kingdome m2. Sam. 8.10. & 12.30.with siluer and goulde. The puritie of coine restored by her Maiestie for base and copper moonies wherewith she found the realme pestered, doth say no lesse for her: beside place of siluer and golde with other ornamentes in so great plenty, as if God would verifie according to the letter that which he promised his Church in a mysterie, nEsa. 60.17.For brasse wil I bring gold, and for yron wil I bring siluer. Much did it make for the safetie of Iury, that o2. Sam. 8.Dauid put garisons in Syria and Idumaea, countries that bordered vponupon the North and South thereof. Much. But more for England, that Elisabeth (to passe ouer the fortifieng of borders) hath furnished it with all sort of armour, and munition, neuer more or better: and thereto with a roiall nauie of vessels, so stately, so strōg, so wel apointed for wars, that our lande is fensed wt walles, not only of wood pHerodot. in Polymnia.as Gręcia was against Xerxes, but of brasse & yron too against forein enimies. The people of Israel confessed of them-selues that q2. Sam. 19 9.they were deliuered out of the hand of the Philistines, and other enemies by that King. The warres which our Queene hath had for our safegard in Scotland and France, euen rLod. Guicciardin comment. de reb. memorab in Europ. lib. 3. Buchana. rer. Scot. lib. 16. & 17. Comment. de stat. rel & reip. in Gal. lib. 5. & 6.aliens hauehave seen and shewed to the worlde that they were atchiued with maruellous honour and aduantage to her selfe & her realm. As this (by Gods grace) which she hath presently sThe Queens declarat. touching aide geuen to the low countries.vppon the like ground in the low countries, shal be in due time also. Again, how sweet a peace hauehave we so long enioied vnderunder her at home, as vnderunder a tKing. 4.25.Salomon in that consideration rather then a Dauid? The fruites whereof, if nothing from abroade had sprong to our wealth and wel-fare (which hath notwithstanding in no smal abundance) might counteruaile the profites u2. Sam. 8.2.that did growe to Iury by Dauids warres and victories, Yea, our dearth and sickenes the chastisementes and afflictions that nowe we doe tast, or did heretofore, (as xHeb. 12.7.needes wee must some, and yPsal. 119.71.expedient wee should) hauehave been but gentle threats to her Maiesties subiectes, in respect of his: z2. Sam. 21.1.the famine, that lasted three yeares together; the plauge that consumed a2. Sam. 24.15.seuenty thousand men. And though by occasion of difficulties and wants, what of men, what of maintenance, her highnes hath not yet bin able to prouide that wise & faithful workmen for the perfite edifieng of the house of God with doctrine and discipline shoulde be set in eueryevery Church through her dominion; as neither was b1. Chr. 22.8.Dauid by reason of his warres to build vp the Temple: yet as hee prepared thinges necessarie for it, that it might be the better doon whē time should serue, so hath shee by fostering Colleges and Schooles, the nurseries of the ministerie. Her princely care wherof hath appeered specially of late vntounto vsus in a branch of our Oliue that was almost withered, the state of Queenes College. Which she hath refreshed, confirmed, aduaunced, with benefits and immunities so bountifully and noblely: that wee and our posteritie hauehave as iust cause to thinke of Queene Elisabeth in the name therof, as of Queene Philippa. Our whole Oliuetree did generally feele it before in the famous and woorthy Act of Parlament c18. El. c. 6.for the maintenance of Colleges & the reliefe of Scholers in both the Vniuersities, & also Winchester & Eaton. An Act that I hauehave hard men of iudgemēt say & I am perswaded that they said truely, (God grant the care of Heades and industrie of Students do bring it to effect,) may proue as beneficial for the encrease of learning, as might the erecting at least of two Colleges. The commodities then, which wee hauehave receiued by her blessed gouernement are as great & many, as those which the Iewes did receiue by Dauids. That we cā not chuse but acknowledge gods fauour to hauehave been as singularly extended vntounto vsus in preseruing her, as it was to thē in preseruing him. For although her Maiestie hath not been assaulted by so many foreine enimes as Dauid: yet by more domestical. Wherein her deliuerances are to be esteemed so much the more precious, by howe much it is easier to beware of open foes, then of secret; of vipers that are farder off, then in our bosomes; of d2. Sam. 2.22.Abners, though valiant, who professe hostilitie then of trecherous e2. Sam. 3.27. & 20.9.Ioabs, who pretend amitie. First (in Queen Maries time) the house of Saul, I meane the broode of them who f1. Sam. 15.21.prefer will woorships before obedience to God, fearing, as g1 Sam. 20.31.Saul did, that their seedes succession should not be established as long as Dauid liued, desired & deuised to bring that to passe which hD. Story. Sander. visib. Monar. lib. 7.one of them sithence made mone it was not done, the boughes were cut off, the root was not hewed vp. But the axe, which he wished to the pleasant roote, fel on the roote of bitternes his owne hearie scalpe: the deuises of the wicked were disappointed by the Lorde, and their desires frustrated. Afterward the vsurper, the Ish-bosheth of Rome, indeed an *That is to say, a man of shame and confusion.Ish-bosheth, when she was anointed and settled in her throne, sought to dispossesse her by his accursed curse and Antichristian sentence declared and published in his Bul. Moorton sent from him, to stir vp wicked spirites to the executing of it. The Earles of Northumberland & Westmerland in armes, with thousands of rebels. When they were fled and scattered: their outrage renued by Dacres and his legion. The Bull it selfe proclaimed, as it were, by Felton, to gather mo conspiratours to it. Al in vaine stil. For the hand of the Lord was ouer his handmaid, & made his woord good, that iProu. 26.2.the vndeserued curse came not vponupon her: it kPs. 109.17.came to them who loued it and they were clothed with it as with a garment. Yet behold an other rebellion intended by certaine Norfolk gentlemē, chiefly Iohn Throckmorton. But crushed in the shel, before it was hatched. And looke what successe had the gentlemen of Norfolke, the same had the Duke. Whose purpose to depriue her Highnes of the crowne and set it on his own head by mariag of the Scottish Queene: howe hee was incouraged thereto by the Pope, 1Dodici mille scudi.how much mony offered by him: in the mean time, & at a time appointed 2Diece mille fanti.how many thousand souldiours, with as many thousand moe by the king of Spaine: 3Ad Harwichwhere they should hauehave landed, and thence (being ioyned with the Dukes forces) hauehave gone to surprise the Tower of London: on of their own sect a man of reputation, lHistor. nou. da l'ann. 1570. sino all ann. 1572. lib. 3.Emilio Maria Manolesso doth write in his Italian storie: lamēting the case, that so braue a com-plot had so vnhappy an ende. Nowe what should I say of the traitours in Ireland? of Stukeley the rakehell, mPontificius Prefectus, Marchio Hibernae Genebrad. Chronog. lib. 4.the Popes Irish Marques, sent thither to subdue it slain in Barbarie by the way; of Sāders the priest, the firebrand of sedition, dead there agreeably to his life; of the arcth-rebels, the Earle of Desinond, and his brother, serued both like n2. Sam. 20.22.Sheba; of the whole rable of their mates and souldiours, Italian, Spanish, Irish, feeling by the vengeance of deserued miseries the follie and furie of their lewd attempts. What of the brainesicke youth, Summerfield? Whose interprise in substance like vntounto Achitophels, did purchase o2. Sam. 17.23.Achitophels euent and end vntounto him. What of Parry, the proude miscreant? who hauing opportunity to worke his diuelish vow, and being resolute to do it, pThe declarat. of W. Parrys treason.the Pope incensing him with allowance of the fact and plenary pardon of his sinnes, the Cardinal of Como with commendation and request, the Papists some with counsel, some with praier for him, some with remembrance at the altar, and Allens traiterous libell making it cleere in his conscience that it was lawfull and meritorious, euerie word therein a warrant to a minde prepared: there was but q1. Sam. 20.3.a step betweene her and death, had not God bewraied him by his Ionathan, and by the hand of iustice giuen him that meed which his vow did merie. An intēt as mischteuous and more potent meanes had the next conspiracy, rThe discouery of Fr. Throckmort. treasons, & of the Earle of Northum.which dealt in before by Francis Throckmorton, was after prosecuted by others. The Popes aide (as alwaies) ready, to gaine kingdomes; the Spanish Kinges assistance; the Scottish Queenes fauorers; the Duke of Guise with forces to inuade the realm; the plots of coastes and hauens for his fit arriuall; the names of recusants with hope of their furtherance; the heathens raging, and the people murmuring, kings banding themselues, and princes taking counsel against the Lord & his anointed. Yet euen in that also, were their powers and policies neuer so out-reaching, there shewed himself aboue them a mightier and wiser: sPsa. 2.4.who sitteth in the heauens, & laugheth them to scorne, discouering and dispersing the smoaky puffes of their endeuours. Which of his accustomed goodnes and bounty he hath done in this too, the last, & I beseech God it be the last, that now he hath disclosed. In the discomfiting whereof, and of the former, his out-stretched arme hath appeared the more glorious: because the vnderminers of her Maiesties state hauehave cloaked their attemptes with pretense of Religion, and saluation of soules, most suttle meanes & forcible to inueigle men: and, to steal away her subiectes heartes from hir, hauehave reconciled them to hir dead lie enimie as to their soueraine Pastor: & made them sure vntounto him by badges and pledges of halowed graines, of medals, of beades, of Agnus-deis, of crusifixes, of pictures, with *A Popish embleme fit for Atheists. See Prou. 23.26.Fili, da mihi cor tuum, & sufficit, Sonne, geue me thy heart, and it sufficeth, & other such spiritual sorceries. A practise more dāgerous thē any of Dauids aduersaries did vse, yea then t2 Sam. 15.1.Absalom himself the cunningst of them al: who had no High Priestes that would take vponupon them to depose Dauid; nor meritoriousnes to fee diuels incarnat with to murder him; nor uThe Popes Bul granted to D. Harding & others, anno Dom. 1567autorities for Harding, & others, to assoile thē that would reuolt from him; nor xThe exec. of iustice in Eng. for treason.faculties for Persons and Campian, to instruct them to 1Ne Bulla Pij Quinti obligei Catholicos rebus sic stantibus: as they stood anno Dom. 1580.obey, or 2Tum demum quando publica ciusdem Bullae exequutio fieri poterit.rebell, as thinges should fall out, nor Iesuites, and Seminarie-Priests, (like the yAugustin. contr. epist. Parmen. l. 1. c. 9. &. l. 3. c. 6.Donatists) to spreade seditious doctrine, and beare the world in hande that zBristow Motiu. 15. Cōcertat. eccl. cath. in Angl. aduers. Calu & Purit. Ecclesiae Anglicanę trophaea, Roma.when they were punished for it, they wer Martyrs. Wherfore all the woordes of the text, that I treat of, which doe lay before vsus the most prouident care and fatherly louelove of God in sauing and deliuering our most excellent Princesse out of the hād of her enimies, of Papists, of Atheists, of Malcōtents, base and noble; secret and open; externall and domestical; are fulfilled and verified in our eares this day. It remaineth that the rest which concerne our duty to God for this benefite, be likewise fulfilled and verified in our eares, or in our heartes rather, naie both in heartes and bodies also. The foremost degree and step whereunto is to acknowledge that the Lorde, our blessed strength, our mightie God, is the autour of it: it is he that liueth, that saueth his anointed, that geueth her reuengements, that bringeth people vnderunder her, that deliuereth her from her enimies, from the cruel man, that exalteth her aboue them who rise vp against hir, that giueth great deliuerances, and sheweth mercy to her, yea to al his seruants, the children of God, the seed of Christ, for euer. And this hauehave our soueraine prouoked vsus to doe by her owne example: aThe Queens letters to the L. Mayor of Lond. and his brethren.ascribing not onelyonly the present detection and apprehension of traitors to the great and singular goodnes of God, but also the infinite blessings laid vponupon her, as many as euer Prince had, yea rather as euer creature had. The Lord hath endued her Maiesties person with most rare prudence; her state with Counsailers very wise and faithfull; her Realme with many thousandes of dutiful louing subiectes, Nor is it to bee doubted but that sundry circumspect eies and loyal handes of these hauehave been occupied in finding out and bringing to light the conspiracie. Yet because the Lorde is bIam. 1.17.the father of lights, & c1. Cor. 4.7.what hath any mā that he hath not receiued? neither can he effectuate ought with that he hath except the Lord blesse it, dPsal. 127.1.except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it; except the Lorde keepe the citie, the keeper watcheth in vaine: therefore doth her Highens in the meanes themselues & aboue the meanes acknowledge the woorking of the principal agent, vnderunder whose protection her selfe resteth safe, and seeth vengeance powred on them that wish her euil. Which I would to God the dissoyall hartes, if there bee any more yet, of that broode of Cockatrices, did acknowledge also: and, as ePsal. 4.4.the Prophet willeth, did weigh it with themselues, and think vponupon their bedde of it. Then were it to bee hoped that in consideration thereof they would bee still: and after f1. Sam. 24.5. & 26.8.his example, whose aduise that is, detest the very breath of such as make mention of laying violent hande vponupon the Lordes anointed. For though it were true, as gThe answ. to the execut. of iust. ca. 5.the traiterous libeller endeuoureth to perswade men, that the Popes sentence against her were as lawefull, as Samuels was against Saul; which yet is most false, and hD. Bilson of Christian subiect. part. 3.proued so to be; but grant it were true: yet had they to remember that Dauid did refraine to lay hand on Saul after Samuels sentence; nether of humanitie onelyonly, but of duty: i1 Sam. 26.9.for who can lay his hand on the Lordes anointed (saith he) and be giltles? At least, if they would not be still, as he was, for conscience sake, yet for kRom. 13.4.fear they might be: seing that lEccl. 10.20.a foule of the aire shall cary the voice, and a bird shall declare the matter, if they but speak euil of the king, yea in their thought, much more if they intend to doe him any euil. And sure, mPsal. 7.12.if they turne not, if they whet their swords, bend their bows and make them ready, and getting themselues deadly weapons prepare their arrowes for persequutors: they hauehave traueiled with lewdnesse and conceiued mischiefe to bring forth a lie; into the pit, that they hauehave digged, they shal fal; their mischiefe shal returne vponupon their owne heads, and on their owne pates shal their cruelty light. For God doth giuegive reuengements vntounto his anointed, and sheweth merciemercy to his Queene, aduauncing her aboue them who rise vp against her. But whether they do vse this benefit of God to their good, or no: let vsus, my deere brethren, let vsus and our houses (as nIos. 24.15.Iosua said) serue the Lord. And that not by acknowledging onelyonly Gods goodnes in this & al his benefites, the foremost step to thankfulnes: but the next also, I meane, by confessing of him among the Gentiles, and singing to his name with yeelding him al glorie for it. For the Heathens themselues, in that smal knowledge of God which sinne left them, did acknowledge him to be the worker and autour of the commodities that they had. In the Greeke Poets oforeign.the Gods are surnamed, by a common title, the giuers of good things. pPlini. hist. natur. lib. 15. cap 30.The Captaines of the Romans hauing conquered their enemies, tooke part of the lawrel (which they did hear in signe thereof) and laid it in the lap of Iupiter. The Caldean king subdued diuerse nations, tooke their holdes, spoiled their cities, seazed on their welth, qHab. 1.11.ascribing that his power & force to his God. But rRom. 1.21.they did not glorify God as they ought, neither were thankful. They robbed him of his honour & gaue it vntounto s1 Cor. 8.5.many Gods, tDan. 5 4.their owne Idols, and uRom. 1.23.Images of mortal creatures. Yea part of the lawrel they kept to themselues: xHab. 1.16.sacrificing to their nets and burning incense to their yarns, because by them their portion was fat, and their meate plenteous. The time of this ignorance is ouerpast, brethren, and the daies are come whereof it was yEsai. 11.9.prophecied, that the earth should be full of the knowledge of the Lorde, as waters coouer the sea. How much the more excuseles shal our fowle ingratitude and vngodlinesse be: if wee bee no thankfuller to him then the Heathens, then the Greeks, the Romans, the Caldeans were. Chiefly sith beside the temporall benefit of the preseruation of our Prince and vsus, wee hauehave receiued graces more excellent and precious to endure for euer: namely, the enioying of his Sonne Christ Iesus, z1. Cor. 1.30.our wisedome, our righteousnes, our sanctification, our redemption; the Spirit of adoption aRom. 8.15.wherby we hauehave boldnes to crie Abba father, the peace of cōscience, tranquillitie of mind, contentednes of hart: the inheritaunce immortal, vndefiled, and that withereth not; the comfort, the protection, the assurance of his louelove: in a word, so many blessinges both of this life, & of the life to come, as neuer any nation vnderunder heauen greater. Wherefore I beseech you by the mercies of God, who spared not his owne Sonne for our sakes, but gaue him to the death, the vile death of the crosse, that wee might liue through him: let vsus confesse him sincerely and faithfully bTit. 1.16.not onelyonly in wordes, but in deeds; and confesse him amōg the Gentiles, euen those which are strangers and altens from the faith that wee may win them to the Lord. Let e1. Pet. 2.12.our conuersation be honest among them that by our good woorkes, which they shal see, they may glorifie God in the day of the visitatiō. Let vsus cast away profane songs of wantōnes, of lightnes, of vanity; & sing vntounto his name: vsing both our voice & speech in al respects dEph. 5.3.as it becōmeth Saints. To be short, let vsus shewe, let vsus striue to shew by al partes of duety a thankful acceptance of the great saluations that hee hath wrought for vsus, and zealous remembrance of the end wherto: eLuk. 1.75.that we being deliuered out of the hād of our enemies, should serue him without feare, in holines & righteousnes before him al the daies of our life. The godly Prince & Prophet, whose vertuous example as in al the rest, so in this speciallie should be a spur vntounto vsus, calling into mind how God hath deliuered his soule from death, his eies from teares, and his feete from falling, brake out into these words: fPsal. 116.12.What shal I render to the lord for al his benefites towards me? I wil take the cup of saluations, and cal vppon the name of the Lord: I wil pay my vows to the lord euen now in the presence of al his people. Neither said he more therein then hee perfourmed. For when g1. Chr. 16.2.he had offered sacrifices of thanks-geuing, hee made a holy banket therewith vntounto the people, in remembrance of the manifold safeties & deliuerāces that he had receiued. He praised the Lord, and called vponupon his name: his Psalms do witnesse it to this day. hPsal. 57.2.He promised that he would iudge righteouslie: i2. Sam. 8.15.he did it. kPsal. 132.2.Hee vowed to bring the arke into a place of rest: l2. Sam. 6.16.hee brought it. How great cause we hauehave, fathers, & brethren, to say as hee saide, What shall wee render to the Lord: your selues doe well know. How small care wee shew of doing as hee did, in praising God, and paying our vowes before his people: the worlde dooth see. Our slacknesse in frequenting of sermons, of praiers, of celebrating the Lordes Supper, and taking the cup of the saluation of saluations, I wishe it were amended rather then reprooued. Wee hauehave made vowes and promises to God, al, of perpetual holines in baptisme: some, of special duties, in their seueral callings. And is it to be hoped that eueryevery one of vsus, though not with Dauids zeale, yet with some measure of it, will paie them to the Lord? Sure the greater hope therof is to be had, if that, which hath been moued of order to be taken for ordinarie sermons and preaching of the woorde on our Sabbath-daies in the afternoone, not the forenoon onelyonly, may be effected by the godly forwardnes of them who should say, mHeb. 6.3.And this wil we do if God permit. The father of mercies & God of al cōfort, who hath raised vntounto vsus a most glorious light, and placed a most gratious Princesse in the throne of gouernment among vsus, sancrify vsus throughout we his holy spirit: that wee may offer vp the sacrifices of righteousnes, the fruits of our lips, of our harts, of our hands, to the glory of his name for al his benefites powred on vsus. And as hee hath hitherto giuen great deliueraunces and shewed mercy to his anointed: so beseech we him for his Sonne our Sauiors sake to doe it stil. Saue her, O Lord, saue her out of the hand of al her enemies. Let their roote bee as rottennesse, and their budde as dust, who rise vp against her. Blesse her with the zealous spirite of Iosias, with the peace of Salomon, with the yeares of Dauid: that she may long raign a godly, a happy, an auncient Mother in Israël. Finally continue thy Fatherly louelove and fauour towarde her for euer, and towards vsus her subiects, the children of thy couenant: that we both in this life & in the life to come may confesse thy goodnesse and sing vntounto thy name with thy blessed Seruauntes and elect Angels. nReu. 7.12.Praise, and glorie, and wisedome, and thankes, and honour, and power, and might, bee vntounto our God for euermore. Amen.
Psal. 21.
7 Because the king trusteth in the Lord and in the merciemercy of the most High, he shal not miscarie.
8 Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: and thy right hand shall find out them that hate thee.
9 Thou shalt make them like a fierie fornace in the time of thine anger: the Lorde shall destroy them in his wrath, & the fire shal deuoure them.
End of the text · John Rainolds, Sermon Upon Psalm 18 (1586)