Gods parley vvith princes with an appeale from them to him. The summe of two sermons on the 3. last verses of the 82. Psalme; preached at Sergeants-Inne in Fleet-Streete. By Thomas Gataker B. of D. and pastor of Rotherhith.

GODS PARLEY WITH PRINCES : WITH AN APPEALE from THEM to HIM .

The SVMME of two SERMONS on the 3. last Verses of the 82. Psalme ,

Preached at SERGEANTS-INNE in FLEET-STREETE .

BY THOMAS GATAKER B. of D. and Pastor of Rotherhith .

LONDON

Printed by EDW: GRIFFIN , and are to be sold by Timothy Barlow , at his shop in Pauls-Church-yard at the signe of the Bull-head . 1620.

TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE , his singular good LORD , Sir HENRY HOBART Knight and Baronet , Lord Cheife Iustice of the Common Pleaes , encrease of true Honour heere , and eternall happinesse hereafter . Right Honourable ,

WHat hath formerly beene offered to your RELIGIOVS eare , is now further presented to your IVDICIOVS eie . Neither doubt I , but that , as it then found attentiue audience with the one , so it will now finde kinde welcome and acceptance with the other : the rather it being , for the matter and substance of it ▪ the message of Him in whose seate you sit , though brought by a weake and vnworthy Messenger , and deliuered in meane and vnpolished manner . Messages are wont to be respected and receiued , and Presents esteemed and accepted more for the party from whom they come , then for the Person by whom they come , or for the manner of the deliuery of them . The matter , I hope , will not be altogether vnprofitable or vnfruitfull , though not handled so artificially or methodically as it might , or as were meete But neither mine incessant incumbrances , and perpetuall distractions , 〈◊〉 of body , variety of busines , and slender meanes of assistance , will afford leasure or liberty for any accurate and exact discourse : Nor is there much neede of Art to perswade godly regard and holy obedience , where the power of piety hath already in some good measure possessed the heart . The Truth of God cannot but finde good entertainment with all those that sincerely loue and like it , although it come naked and bare , as a a 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 E●…rip . Ph●…niss . Veritatis simplex oratio est . S●…n . Epist. 49. 〈◊〉 ●…ritati operam dat oratio incomposita debet esse & simplex . Ibid. 40. best beseemeth it , or but meanely attired , not bedecked and set out with such ornaments and dressings , as the naturall eye and eare only affect and regard . If in ought it seeme ouer-harsh vnto any , b b C●…ncti qui ●…derunt mandatum sacrum , causam od●… in seipsis habent ▪ omne illis fastidium non in legis praecepti●… , sed in moribus sun . Salvian ▪ ad Eccles. cathol. l. 4. the fault is in themselues , not in it . c c M●…ca 2. 7. The word of God , saith the Prophet , is good , yea and pleasant too , as d d 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 à 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 quod idem cum 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 the word vsed there signifieth , to euery one that walketh vprightly : e e Psal. 119. 103. as sweet as hony , yea f f Psal. 9. 11. sweeter then g g 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 distillatione favorum . i. melle acoeto , siue maxi n●… landabili , quòd è favo vltrò stillat . I●… . ex Plin. hist. net . l. ●…1 . c. 15. the purest hony to such ; as DAVID professeth of himselfe . But euen Hony it selfe , though of it selfe h h Pro●… . 24. 13. good and pleasant , and wholesome and medicinall , yet i i 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Alex. Aphrodiss . problem . l. 2. 130. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Dion . Chrysost. orat . 57. causeth paine and smart to an exulcerate part : And k k 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Idem ibid. children therfore that , at other times much desire it and crie for it , yet will not endure to haue it come neere their lips , when they haue sore mouthes . l l Quam d●… blanditur sibi & dulcis est iniquitas , 〈◊〉 est veritas . Aug. de verb. D●… . 4. It is mans loue of his owne corruptions and impatience of cure , that maketh the word of God harsh and vnpleasant vnto any . But there is no feare or doubt that ought here should in this kind be distastfull to your Lordship , whose discreet , and moderate and vpright cariage in your place is so generally acknowledged and testified of all sorts . If at vacant houres your Lordship shall vouchsafe to cast your eie on it , it shall be more then a sufficient recompence of my paines in it . A monument it shall at least be of that duty , that I deseruedly owe vnto your Honour , and of my thankfull acknowledgement of that vndeserued fauour and countenance that your Lo: hath beene pleased from time to time to ▪ vouchsafe mee , as well before , as since I came vnder the wing of your Honourable protection . And the Lord of Lords protect your Lordship , encrease in you his graces , direct you in your courses , and blesse you with long life and many good daies , to his glory , the publike good , your owne spirituall comfort in this life , and your eternall saluation after this life .

Your Lordships at command in all Christian duty THO. GATAKER .

GODS Parly with PRINCES : With An APPEALE from them to Him . PSALM . 82. vers . 6 , 7 , 8. 6. I haue said ; Yee are Gods , and sonnes of the most High , all of you . 7. But yee shall die like men ; and fall as one of the Princes . 8. Arise , ô God , judge thou the earth : for thou inheritest * * Or , in all Nations . all Nations .

THe Booke of Psalmes , though it be called from b b Certis Psalmos Dauidis numeri●… constare . Aug. Epist. 131. Dauidem Hebraei 5. incisionibu●… & vno Psalmorum volumine comprehendunt . Hieron . prolog. galeat . the greater part , by the name of a a 74 Psalmes are expresly so entitled : that some others that want titles expressing their Pen men were his also , see Act. 4. 25. Dauids Psalmes ; yet were c c Contra quam Enthymius praefat. in Psalt . not all the Psalmes in it composed by Dauid ; but some of them d d Psal. 90. by Moses , some e e Psal. 〈◊〉 . by Heman , some f f Psal. 89. by Ethan , some g g Psal. 137. by others . This Psalme , as i i Sicut & Psal. 50. & 73. & 74. & 75. & 76. & 77. & 78. diusers others , vncertaine , whither written h h 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 vel Asaphi , vel Asapho . Vise Drus. obseru. lib. 5. cap. 3. sic 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Psal. 72. & 127. quod alij Solomonis , alij pro Solomone . by or for Asaph : the Hebrew will beare either .

But being certaine , that it was endited k k 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . 2. Tim. 3. 15. by the Spirit of God ( our Sauiour himselfe l l 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Ioh. 10. 36. alleadging part of it giueth expresse testimonie thereunto ) m m Quis haec scripserit , supervacuè quaeritur , cum autor scripti Spiritus sanctus fideliter credatur . Greg. Rom. praefat. moral . c. 1. we need not stand to discusse by what or whose pen it was written . n n Regis epistolis acceptis , quo calamo scriptae sint , ridiculum est quaerere . Ibid. When letters or mandates are knowne to come from the King and to be signed with the Kings owne hand , it is needlesse to inquire either by what Secretary they were drawne , or with what quill his name was subscribed .

The matter of the Psalme doth mainely and principally concerne Magistrates : Which to make the more effectuall , o o Vers. 1. God himselfe is produced here sitting on the bench , said to be p p 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 his , amids the Iudges tearmed q q 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gods ; tam praeses quam praesens , not as present onely with them in place , but as President in power ; and by vertue of that power of his parlying and expostulating with them ; and that

1. r r Vers. 2. by way of reprehension ; rebuking them sharpely , and taking them vp roundly , for their vniust and corrupt cariages in matter of judicature .

2. s s Vers. 3. 4. By way of admonition , inciting them to the due and diligent performance of their office , and discharge of their dutie in the vpright and vnpartiall administration and execution of justice .

3. t t Vers. 5. By way of admiration ; as wondring at their sottish and senslesse behauiour ; that , though u u Terra statumina dimoventur . the pillars of the whole State , and their owne seates withall were shaken vnder them , partly through their owne misgouernment , and partly also through the just judgement of God vpon it ; yet they would not see it and take notice of it , to amend what was amisse ; but go on still wilfully in their corrupt courses , till all came to confusion .

Now because such great men might peraduenture alledge for themselues that x x 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Psal. 58. 11. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Diotogen . Pythag. de regno apud Stob. tom . 2. c. 46. Sine dubio D●… terrenu●… est Imperator . Paulus . Diac. in Theodor. & Principes instar Deorum . Tacit. annal. l. 2. Iudges ( as y y Leyfield . some expound the Psalmist ) are Gods vpon earth : yea that z z Exod. 22. 8 , 9 , 28. cum Act. 23. 5. Aug. quaest. E●…od . 86. Sed & Leuit. 24. 15. si Drusium audimus miscel. l. 2. cap. 65. God himselfe hath so stiled them , hee hath said himselfe as much of them : and therefore a a Quod ●…ovi , hoc R●…gi licet . Lyc●… apud Sen. H●…rc . fur . act. 2. sc. 2. Quod & à Clyti cade A●…xarchus Alexandr●… adulat●… , vt Plut. ad prefect . indoct . Sic Persi●… R●…gibus licere quicquid liberet , à Magis responsum Cam●…isi relatum : Her●…t . lib. 3. M●…mento ●…ihi omnia & in omnes licere . Caius apud Sret . c. 29. Et Iulia incesta Bassian●… apud Spartian●… : Si licet licet . A●… nesci●… t●… Imperatore●… esse , & leges d●…re non accipere . Iezabel altera 1. Reg. 21. 7. they may doe what they li●…t b b Culpas i●…hic redarguere pres●…mit mortalium 〈◊〉 . de Papa Bonifac. dist. 40. Papa ●…emo a●…deat dicere , Domine , c●…r 〈◊〉 fac●… ? Gloss. ad e●…tr . de concess. pr●…nd . neque 〈◊〉 legi Papa subi●…cet vlli . Ostiens . de offic. Lega●… without check or controle .

This the Spirit of God here meeteth withall and maketh answer to , partly c c 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , vt Iun. parall . l. 1. c. 77. vers . 6. by way of concession , and partly d d 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 vers . 7. by way of correction : as if hee had said : True it is indeed ; I haue said it ; and I still grant it ; ye are by office and commission Gods , and Gods sonnes and Heires as it were in some part of his power . But yet neither doth this exempt you from your natiue condition of frailtie and mortalitie ; nor depriue or abridge God of his authoritie and soueraignti●… , which he hath in part so imparted to you aboue others , as yet e e 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . de reg●…o . R●… 〈◊〉 in proprios greges : Reg●…s in ipsos 〈◊〉 Iovis est . H●…rat . 〈◊〉 . lib. 3. 〈◊〉 1. he retaineth ouer you and them still : That which you shall one day finde and feele , when you that are now aboue others , shall die as well as others , euen f f 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Adam pro homine pleb●…io , vbi 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 vt●… Psal. 49. 2. & 62. 9. as other ordinarie me●… doe , and g g Sicut vn●…s ( aliorum ) princip●… . ●…orum scil. de quibu●… Psal. 89. 9 , 10 , 11. as others of your owne rancke haue done before you ; and you that now iudge others , shall be iudged with others , comming h h Post mortem iudicium . Heb. 11. 26. after death to giue vp your accounts vnto him .

In i i Vers. 9. the last verse is the conclusion of the Psalme ; ( as the Preface was in the first verse ) wherein the Psalmist by an Apostrophe turneth his speech : and , whereas before he spake in the person of God vnto Rulers , he now leaueth them , as little hoping to preuaile oughts with them ; so bent especially as k k Vers. 5. then they were ( l l Drant on Eccles. 11. 1. It is in the reformation of a State , as in flaying of a beast , the matter sticketh most when it commeth to the heads : ) And hee speaketh now in his owne person , or in the person of the poore and oppressed , whom he had m m Vers. 4. before mentioned , concerning them vnto God : Entreating him , whose n n 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 scuta terr●… . i. protectiones . ●…un . Psal. 47. 9. the Sheilds of the world are , and o o Psal. 2. 8. whose Inheritance the whole world is , p p Psal. 10. 14. to take the matter into his owne hand , and q q Psal. 146. 7. to execute justice himselfe for those that sustaine wrong , as wel on those by whom they are wronged , as on those that refuse to do them right .

And thus much both for the Generall summe of the Psalmes , and the principall parts of it ; which might easily be minced out into many more particulars : But because r r Aequè c●…nfusa est divisi●… & ni●…ia & nulla . Senec . epist. 89. Itaque in partes divid●… vtile est , non in 〈◊〉 concidi ( vel comminui 〈◊〉 ) ●…d . multiplicitie of diuision , as one well obserueth , breedeth but confusion ; this for the present shall suffice .

Now to leaue the rest of the Psalmists discourse either of , or with these earthly Gods and Gouernors ; in the three last verses , which my purpose is principally to insist on , we may consider according to the former analysis and resolution of them , these two parts ;

1. s s Vers. 6 , 7. A parly with them : and , 2. t t Vers. 8. An Appeale from them .

In the former the speciall points obseruable , may be referred to two Heads ;

1. u u Vers. 6. The dignity and eminencie of Rulers and Magistrates aboue others , in regard of their diuine constitution ; 2. x x Vers. 7. The frailty , miserie and mortality common to them with others , in regard of their humane condition .

For the former of these : The dignitie and excellencie , * * Vise Iustin. 〈◊〉 . quaest. 14●… . as of Angells aboue other Creatures , so of Magistrates aboue other men , herein appeareth , in that the name of God himselfe is giuen vnto either . To Angells , where the Psalmist saith of man . y y Psal. 8. 5. Thou hast made him litle lesse then the Gods : that is , z z Hebr. 2. 7. Et ●…ic Sept. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . then the Angells . And of Christ the sonne of God ; a a Psal. 97. 7. Worship him , all yee Gods : that is , b b Heb. 1. 6. Et sic Sept. ▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . all yee Angells of God ; as the Apostle himselfe expoundeth it .

To Magistrates , where it is said : c c Exod. 22. 8. & 21. 6. He shall appeare before the Gods : and , d d Exod. 22. 2●… . Act. 23. 5. Thou shalt not raile vpon the Gods , nor reuile the R●…ler of thy People . And , not to go far , as e e Vers. 1. before , where God is said to sit in judgement f f 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 amiddes the Gods : so here , where he both avoweth the stile , and extendeth it to all of them , what euer they be otherwise , good or bad , just or vnjust , godly or godlesse ; I haue said it : Yee are all of you , both g g 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dij , Gods , and h h 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 filij Dei , sonnes of God : as the Heathen Poet calleth i i 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Ho●…er . passim . Et Plin. Paucgy●… . Necdum Imperator , 〈◊〉 Dei fili●… 〈◊〉 . Kings , Persons diuinely descended ; and the Heathen King speaking in his heathenish language , saith k k Dan. 3. 25. he saw in the furnace with those three seruants of God that abode safe in the fire , l l I●… sed pia s●…amma tunc pepercit . Prudent . stepi●…ā 6. Et quorum vestimenta non attigit , vincula consumpsit , vt vno codemque tempore & haberet flamma virtutem suam ad solatium , & non haberet ad tormentum . Oreg . mor. lib. 9. cap. 49. & dialog. lib. 3. cap. 18 ▪ which though it burst their bonds asunder , yet burnt not their bodies , a fourth person m m 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sicut Apo●… . 1. 13. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Like a sonne of man . W. May . like a sonne of the Gods , that is like n n Alexander Sacerdoti Iovis filium ●…uncupāti : 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Plut. apophth . some rare and excellent personage .

Now if we aske the question , why Kings and Rulers are so tearmed ; our Sauiour himselfe will informe vs , if we conceiue him aright . o o Ioh. 10. 35. Si illos dixit Deos , p p Sic vetus vulg. Vatabl. Leo I●…d . Erasm. Beza &c. ad quos sermo Dei factus est : If he called them Gods , to whom the word of God came ; or , was made , or , was . They were ( saith our Sauiour ) called Gods , not , because q q Sicut Angl. vecu●… tum communis tum Ge●…r . the word of God was spoken to them : but r r Sic Syr. Quia . because the word of God came , or word for word , s s 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 fuit . Syr. prout . & Ebr. Ioel. 1. 1. & Ion. 1. 1. was made vnto them . Word by an Hebraisme is vsed commonly for charge , command , commission , or warrant . So t t Deut 10. 4. decem verba , Gods ten words , for his ten precepts , or edicts . And , u u Dan. 3. 22. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 vti Ioan. 10. 35. Syr. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 verbum Regis , The Kings word , that is , his command , was vrgent . And x x Ester . 3. 12 , 15. Queene Vashti refused to come , adverbum Regis , at the Kings word , or commaund . And , y y Ester . 3. 15. & 4. 3. the Posts went out speeded z z Vel cum edicto , vel Rege 〈◊〉 . Drus. in or cum verbo Regis , with , or by the Kings commission . As by the Kings word then is meant the Kings commission or warrant : so by Gods word in our Sauiours speech may his charge , warrant or commission be well vnderstood in the judgement of very a a Vise Zanchium ad Hosh. 1. 1. good Diuines . And as it is said of b b Hosh. 1. 1. Hoshe , c c Ion. 1. 1. Ionas , d d Luk. 3. 2. Iohn the Baptist and others , that the word of God came , or , e e 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . was made vnto them , because they had speciall charge and commission from God for the performance of some Offices with the people of God : so f f Frustra enim est Origen . qui ad Angelos detorquet , in Exod. ho●… 8. frustra etiam , quod ad totum genus humanum distendit idem in Rom. 3. de qu●… Aratus tamen v●…rè , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . — ad sanctos saltem vniversos , Iusti●… , cum Tryph. Tertull. ad Hermogen ▪ : & Hieron , ad Gal. 1. de quibus 2. Petr. 1. 3 , 4. Et Sen. in Apocol . Pictate & institia principes Dij ●…iunt . of Magistrates saith our Sauiour that the word of God is made to them , because they haue a speciall commission signed them from God , for the executing of a speciall place vnder him and from him .

That Kings and Princes therefore are tearmed Gods and Sonnes of God , it is g g 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Eustath . Itaque quod H●…od . in Theogon . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 - Ho●…er . Iliad . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Eustath . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Iust. quaest. orth. 142. O●… communitat●…m ipsi●… pot●…ntiam & potestatem Zanch de na●… . Dei . lib. 1. cap. 12. Non quod natura sint Dij , sed quod officium ●…orum sit ordinatio divina . Brent . in Ioam . 10 not in regard of nature or naturall descent , but in regard of honour , authority and power conferred vpon them from God . For , h h Prou. 8. 15 , 16. By me , saith i i P. 18. 23 , 25. the eternall Sonne of God by Salomon , do Kings reigne , and Lords execute iudgement : By me Princes rule and Nobles , euen all the Iudges of the earth . They rule and reigne all of them aut missi , aut permiss●… , Either k k 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 sent of him or l l Pet. 2. 18. ●… Iudg. 3. 8. & 4. 2. suffred by him : wrongfull Vsurpers by permission of him , rightfull Gouernours by commission from him : by his prouidence the one , by his ordinance the other : For , m m Rom. 1●… . 1. there is no power but it is of God : and the powers that are , are ordained of God : saith the Apostle Paul of the one : And , n n Ioan. 19. 11. Thou couldest haue no power ouer me , were it not giuen thee of God : saith our Sauiour himselfe of the other . o o I●…de est Imperator , vnde & homo antequam Imperator : inde potest as illi , vnde & Spiritus Ter●…ull . apolog. Cuius 〈◊〉 homines 〈◊〉 , buius iussu & Reg●…s constituunt●…r . Ir●…n , lib. 5. cap. 24. Of him alone are their places , of whom are their persons , whatsoeuer their persons are ▪ And p p Potestas enim 〈◊〉 ( etiam nocentin●… . Aug. de nat. bo●…i cap. 32. ) à summa Dci potestate omnino datur . Idem cont. S●…cund . ●… . 10. Qui dat regnum caelorum solis pijs , regnum terrenum & pije & impijs , sicut ei placet , cui nihil injustè placet . Idem de ciuit . l. 5. c 21. A quo sunt omnes potestates , quamvis ab illo non sent omni●… voluntates . Ibid. c. 8. Legatur & Theoplryl . in Rom. 13. the power it is his , howsoeuer they come by it , or howsoeuer they abuse it .

Hence it is that the Kings chaire of estate is called Gods Throne . q q 1 Chron. 29. 23. Salomon sat on the Throne of God as King in steede of Dauid his Father . And the Bench of Iudges is called Gods Bench. r r Vers. 1. inca●… Dei . Iun. God standeth in the Congregation , or assembly of God . And the iudgement they execute is said to be Gods iudgement . s s 2 Chron. 19. 6. & Deut. 1. 17. The iudgement ye iudge is not Mans , but Gods .

Yea hence it is that Kings and Princes are tearmed Christi Domini , The Lords annointed : not Hebrewes onely , as Saul , though a bad one and one that feared not God ; t t 1. Sam. 24. 7. He is , saith Dauid , the Lords annointed ; but euen Heathens too , as Cyrus , though a Pagane and one that knew not God ; u u Esay . 45. 1 , 5. Thus saith the Lord to Cyrus his anointed ; I strengthen thee , though thou knowest not mee . And not Christi Domi●…i , x x 1 San. 12. 3. 2. Sam. 1. 14 , 16. the Lords anointed onely , but Domini Christi , y y 1 Cor. 8. 5. Christus Cherub . Ezech. 38. 14. Lords anointed , or Gods anointed , if you will : as z z Psal. 89. 20. 1 Sam. 10. 1. anointed of God , so anointed , a a Psal. 45. 6 , 7. Esai . 61. 1. & 1. Reg. 19. 15 , 16. vngere sic sumitur . that is , solemnly appointed to be Gods , though not by nature , yet by office , by deputation from God , as b b Ego e●… omnibus mortalibus placui electusque sum , qui in terris diuina vice fungerer . Sen. de ele●… . l. 1. c. 1. Sed & Eleutherlus Episc. Rom. Lucium nostratem Dei in regno suo Vicarium agn●…scit . Deputies , Leifetenants and Vicegerents vnto God .

Neither is this an idle appellation onely , titulus sine re , a naked title without truth , or a bare shadow without substance . c c Aug. in Psal. 108. Deus cum benedicit , faci●… quod dicit : God where he blesseth , hee doth what hee saith : where he imposeth a name , he imparteth withall what the name imposed doth import . As he hath giuen an eminent appellation vnto them : so he hath conferred an eminent power and authority vpon them , d d 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Diotog . de regno . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Ecp●…ā . tes Pythag. de regn●… apud Stob. tom . 2. c. 46. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Ag●…petus Iustiniano . Inde 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Diotogenes , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Philippus Mac. d●…cit ; quod Plin. in Panegyr . Aequata●… dijs potestatem . a diuine power representing and resembling his owne soueraignty . He hath made them sacred and soueraigne ; he hath put his owne sword , the sword of Iustice and Iudgement into their hands .

The Magistrate is e e 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Rom. 13. 4. Ensifer Dei , Gods Sword-bearer : saith the Apostle : and that not to beare , or weare the sword for a shew ; ( f f 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ibid. for he hath it not for nought : ) but to draw it out , and l l 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . to make vse of it according to such directions as from God himselfe he hath receiued . m m V●…s quibus rector maris atque terrae Ius dedit magnum necis at ●… 〈◊〉 . Sen. Thyest. act. 3. sc. 3. Vit●… necisque gentibus arbiter datus . S●…noc . de clem . l. 1. c. 1. He hath ius vita & necis , power of life and death , the most soueraigne power that may be : the greatnesse whereof may hereby appeare , in that n n Non fit re●… homicidi●… , qui hominem occiderit , obedions potestati ; 〈◊〉 , nis●… fecerit , imperij deserti . quo●… tamen si sua sponte atque authoritate fecisset , in crimen effusi human●… sanguinis incidisset . Aug. de ciuit . l. 1. c. 26. Non enim ipse occidit , qui 〈◊〉 debet i●…benti ; ●…icut admini●…ulum gladi●…e est vtenti . Ibid. c. 21. Visatur Th●… . p. 2●… 2●…●… . 74. ●… . 3. that being done in due sort at his appointment is good justice , which being don without him were no better then murther the highest degree of iniustice , euen to them that should deserue it .

And thus you see summarily both the ground and reason of this Title ; as also the great dignitie and excellencie that it importeth .

The Vse whereof concerneth either Rulers themselues , or others in regard of them .

For the former : ( Giue , I beseech you , not mee leaue , but God leaue , in whose place I stand here , as your selues sit elsewhere , to put you in mind and admonish you of your duty to him : ) Hath God himselfe conferred this great honour on you ? o o Apud Grat. 〈◊〉 . ●… . dist. 81. c. 18. & Lucius c. 19. Et Bo●…fac . 8. in 6. d●…cret . l. 1. tit. 3. c. 15. Non datur beneficium nisi propter officium : No benefice , saith the Canon , is bestowed vpon any , but in regard of some office to be performed for it . Then as he hath honoured you , be you carefull to honour him .

It is a point of great Equitie . For q q Quid aequius , quid iustius , quam vt vos honoran●…em honor●…tis ipsi ? what can be iuster or more equall , then that you should honour him againe when hee honoureth you , whom you stand bound to honour whether he thus honour you or no ? yea what is more agreeable both to religion and reason , then r r 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Arist●…t . polit. l. 5. c. 11. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Agapet . Iustin. that they should honour him more then others , whom aboue others he hath honoured ? s s Cur qui in saeculo prim●… es , non in Christi familia pri. mus sis ? Hieron . Iuliano . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Pietas optimus est Imperatoris cultus . Soz●…m . praefat. ad Theodos. Why , saith he , shouldest not thou bee a prime Scholler in Christs schoole , that art a prime person in the State ? Why should not you bee more forward then others in aduancing of Gods glory , whom God hath in such glorious manner aduanced aboue others ?

And on the other side t t Quid iniquiu●… , quid indignius quam beneficio tanto mal●…cium rependere ? Ierem : 18. 20. what can be more vnworthy or vnequall , then for you to repay God againe with euill for good , for so high an honour , for so great a good ? where consider ( I beseech you ) in the feare of God , what a fearefull thing it is , when it falleth out as it did in Ieremies time . o I will get me to the great ones : saith the Prophet , when hee could not preuaile with the poorer sort of the common people : they ( I am sure , though the other be foolish and sottish ; ) know the way of the Lord , and the iudgement of their God : But how found he them affected ? But they haue wholy shaken off the yoke , and broken the bonds : not vnlike those of the same ranke , u u Ierem : 5. 5. that say in the Psalme , x x Psal: 2. 3. Let vs breake his bands asunder , and cast his cordes away from vs . The greatest men were the greatest Rebels ; y y Vt divitijs , s●…c vitijs primi ●…uere . Salvia●… . de prouid . l. 7. as formost in wealth and worship , so forwardest in wickednesse . And remember withall , as that of the Wiseman , that z z Potentes potenter tormenta patientur . Sap. 6. 7. Leviusque ferit leuiora Deus . Sen. Hippol . act 4. Mighty men shall be mightily punished : so that also of the Centurists , that * * Ingentia bene●…cia , ingentia flagitia , ingentia supplicia . Cent. 5. praefat. Extraordinarie blessings seconded with extraordinarie sinnes will at length draw downe extraordinarie iudgements .

a a Interest hominis Deo cedere . Tertul. apolog. Dijs te minorem quod geris , imperas ; Hinc omne principium , huc refer exitum . Horat. carm. l. 3. ode 6. Sic enim omnibus maio●… est , dum solo vero Deo minor est . Tertull. ad Scapul . Ideò magnus est , quia coelo minor est . Idem apolog. Tudelubra non nisi adoraturus intras : tibi maximus honor excubare pro templis , postibusque pratexi . Sic fit vt Dei sum●…um inter homines fastigium serues , cum Deorum ipse non adeptus . Plin. Pane. adoptes Lips . It is a point of good Policie . For , b b 1 Sam. 2. 30. Honorantes me honorabo ; Those that honour mee , saith God to Eli , them will I honour . And , c c Psal. 75. 6. Promotion commeth neither from d d 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Pompeius Syllae , non Cinnae , vt Eras. chil . 3. c●…nt . 3. adag . 15. test . Plut. Et Macroni Tiberius ; Occidentem ab ●…o deseri , Orientem spectari . Tacit. annal. l. 6. Ezech. 8. 16. Eccles. 4. 15. the East , nor from the West , nor yet from the South , e e Eccles. 1. 6. where the warme Sunne-shine is : but God is the soueraigne Iudge that setteth vp and pulleth downe . It is God that maketh Gods and that vnmaketh them at his pleasure : it is he , f f Dan. 2. 21. qui Reges deponit , regna disponit , that deposeth Kings and disposeth Crownes , and much more then other inferiour places and powers . From him it is that you haue them ; by him it is that you hold them . * * Qui dedit hoc hodiè , cras , si volet , a●…feret : vt si Detulerit fasces , indigno detrahet idem . Horat. ep. 15. l. 1. And as he hath giuen you this honor , so hee can take it againe from you . g g Quod contulit immerentibus , tollit malè meritis . Quod illo dante fit nostrum , nobis superbientibus fit alien●…m . Aug. homil. 14. What he hath conferred vpon you without desert , hee can for your euill-desert with-draw from you againe : And not so onely ; but ( as he iustly may and vsually doth ) h h Deus alia exaltat ; alia submittit , nec molliter pouit , sed exfastigio su●…●…ullas habitura reliquias iactat . Sen nat . qu●…st . l. 3. Vt rebus laetis par sit mensura malorum . Iuvenal . sat. 10. make your punishment proportionable to your former preeminence . For , i i Iob. 12. 21. Psal. 107. 40. Sicut diffundi dicitur gratia Psal. 45. 2. profundi spiritus Ioel. 2. 28. & Act. 2. 17. cum 1. 5. profundit contemptum super Principes ; He poureth out contempt , saith the Spirit of God , vpon Princes . k k Mala. 2. 3. He heaueth durt and disgrace in his wrath with a full l l Apoc. 16. 1. viall in their faces , as with m m 1 Sam. 16. 113. a full horne in mercie , he had before heaped honour on their heads . Oh , thinke ye not therefore , because ye are by God himselfe tearmed Gods , that n n 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Aga●…t . you are thereby discharged of your duty vnto God . o o 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Diotogen . deregn●… . This honour conferred on you , tieth you streighter then others ; it exacteth it in a larger measure of you then of others . p p Ezra . 4. 14. Who owe more duty to their Soueraigne then those , that haue beene by him highest aduanced ? It is a foule imputation , and no small blemish for great Ones , not onely to go beyond others in dishonouring of God , but to come short of others , yea not to out-strip others in seeking the glory of God , in doing their duty vnto him ; to be more slacke , lesse frequent and feruent , q q Deut. 17. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. Psal. 2. 11. & 22. 29. Ezech. 46. 1 , 2 , 9 , 10. in hearing , in reading , in prayer , in the generall practise of piety , either wholy neglecting such offices and religious exercises , or so performing them , r r Quomodò de Theod●…rico Sidone . epi. 1. lib. 1. sic Deum vener●…ri solitum , vt possi●… quivis animo ad vertere , quod 〈◊〉 istam pro consu●…tudine potius quàm pro religione rev●…rentiam . Legatur & Aug. de t●…mp . 251. out of customary fashion , more then out of religious regard , as if they graced God by doing some such seruice vnto him , or as if God were beholden to them for vouchsafing to serue him : So that God may haue just cause to complaine of them , as s s Esai . 1. 2 , 3. he doth by the Prophet , that he hath trained vp sonnes , and aduanced them to high place ; and they either spurne and rebell against him , or at least take no notice of it to honour him againe for it .

And here , let me more particularly , t t 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . 2 Cor. 5. 20. as from God and in Gods name , intreate you , to haue a speciall regard of obseruing Gods Sabbaths . You that u u Exod. 20. 10. Deut. 5. 14. Nehem. 10. 31. & 13. 16 , 17 , 18. are to see them obserued by others , ought not you much more to obserue them your selues ? x x Vita Principis censura est , eaque perpetua . ad hanc convertimur ; ad hanc dirigimur . Plin. P●…negyr . ad Tra●…an . Itaque rectè facere Prin●…eps cives suos faciendo docet . Velleius hist. l. 2. Et contra , vitia principes non solùm ipsa concipiunt , sed etiam in civitatem infundunt : plusque exemplo quàm peccato nocent . Cic. de leg . l. 3. - totus enim componitur orbis Regis ad exemplum ; nec sic inflectere sensus Humanes edicta valent , quàm vita regentis . Clau : de 4. Coss. Honor. Rex velit honesta , nemo non eadem volet . Sen. Thyest. act. 2. sc. 1. Your cariage is a kinde of censure : that all men fix their eies vpon , that most men shape their courses by . If others then shall see you riding in your circuits on the Sabbath , will not they thinke within themselues ? And why may not I as well ride on the Sabbath to a Faire , as the Iudge may to the place of Assise ? If they shall be warned to appeare before you for some hearing by themselues , or by their Counsell vpon the Sabbath , will they not be ready to argue from the workes of your calling , to the workes of their owne ? And why may not I as well be about my worke as they about theirs ? And in truth ( to speake plainly as the thing it selfe is ) why may not a Smith as well worke at the forge , or an Husbandman at the plough , as y y Causas die D●…minico vel audire vel agere prohibent , apud Grat. Adrian . pp. c. 15. q. 4. Item Conc. Ephesin . Et Conc. Tarracon . can . 4. Item Conc. Matiscon . 2. c. 1. & Su●…ss . c. 5 , & 8. & Conc. ad Compend . c. 2. apud Burchard . decr . l. 2. c. 81 , 82 , 85 , 87. Sed & Con●… . Tribur , cap. 5. apud Cr●…spet . in Sum. Visatur & Aug. de temp. 251. a Iudge sit to heare ciuill causes on the Sabbath ? The one hindereth the sanctification of it as well as the other .

And if it be alleadged that the one is ( as before was proued indeed ) more specially z z Deut. 1. 17. 2 Chron. 19. 6. Gods worke . So were the repairing of a Church , which yet the Mason or Plumber may not worke about on the Sabbath ; no more then Besaleel or Aholiab might about the worke of the Tabernacle , * * Exod. 31. 2 , 6 , 11 , 13 , 14 , 15. de quo rectè exponit Bound illud Exod. 35. 2 , 3. quo ignis per Sabbatum accendi prohibetur : quod tamen defornacibus calcarijs &c. 〈◊〉 intelligit ; Bradshaw ad tempus commorationis in cremo restringit . for the furtherance whereof , God would not admit or giue way to the least violating of his Sabbath . But I leaue this to your graue and discreet consideration . You are wise and reuerend : and a word with the wise is sufficient . I forbeare therefore to presse this further , & passe on to an other branch not much vnlike this .

In the next place then . Are you Gods in regard of your eminent places ? a a Grandis ●…onos ; sed grave pond●… i●…tius est honor●… . Greg. Rom. in E●…ang . hom. 26. It is a great honour indeed ; but it is a weighty charge that this honour laieth on you . It is most equall that those that are tearmed Gods , should in their courses and cariage most resemble him whose name they beare .

They performe but euill Offices , that buzze into great mens heads , that they may be borne with , though they doe oft otherwise then they ought ; because b b 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Isocr . ad Nicocl . they haue stronger temptations then others , and fewer meanes of restraint ; they haue winde and tide against them , and therefore , as the manner of those is that row on the riuer , they must be allowed the benefit of the bancke . For c c Quibus omnia principum honest●… atque inhonesta laudare mos est . Tacit. annal. l. ●… . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Adulator Antig●…no in Plut. apoph●…h . Indigna digna 〈◊〉 suns qu●… rexfacit . Plaut. cap. 2. 1 they are too plaine and palpable that instruct them to confound d d Vndè 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Hesiod●… dicti , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Eust●… ▪ ad I●…iad . ●… . In summa fortuna id aequi●… quod 〈◊〉 . Tiridates apud Tacit. a●…al . l. 15. might with right , and e e 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Thrasymach●… apud Plat. de rep●…b . l. 1. Id esse i●… quod ●…i qui plus potest vtilc est . Aug. de ci●…it . l. 19. c. 21. goodnesse with gainefulnesse ; that f f 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 apud Thu●…yd . l. 6. Nihil glori●…sum nisi tutum : & omnia retinend●… domination●… honesta esse . Lepidu●… apud Salust . Itaque omnia recta & honesta negligant , dum modò potentiam 〈◊〉 . Cic. offic. l. 3. teach them to measure all things by the crooked metwand of their priuate profit or pleasure : as also those that listen to such Instructors , and g g 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Dion Chrys. serm. 62. that follow such aduice ; taking occasion to liue disorderly and to deale iniuriously by the priuiledge of their place , because none may compell them to do otherwise or dare controle them when they so do ; as h h saccti●… , pietas , fides priua●…a bona sunt : quâ l●…bet , reges ●…ant . Sen. Thyest. 2. 1. V●…icunque tantum honesta dominanti licent , Precario regnatur . Ibid. if loosenesse and licentiousnesse were the proper fruite of greatnesse , and i i Sceptror●…m vis tota perit , si pendere iusta Incipit . Lucan . l. 8. Id esse reg●…i maxim●… pign●… putant , Si quicquid alijs non licet , solis lice●… . Sen. Agam. 2. 2. Magnitudi●…ē fortuna sua peccand●… libidine 〈◊〉 , quicquid liberet pro licit●… vindicans . de Iulia Vellei●… . l. 2. Impunè quid libe●… facere , id esse Regem esse . Memmi●… apud S●…lust . Ing●…rth . soueraignty consisted in nothing else but in giuing great ones liberty to liue as they listed .

k k In maxima fortuna 〈◊〉 est li●… . C●…sar . apud Salust . Quanto plus liceat , tam libe●…t minus . Auson . 7. Sap. Rather the higher their places are , the lesse liberty is leaft them : Not in regard of God onely : because ( as before ) l l Minimum debet libere , cui nimium licet . Sen. Troad . Magna 〈◊〉 est magna fortuna . Sen. ad Polyb. c. 26. ●… Luk 12. 48. where he hath conferred much . there he expecteth the more : And , as he said sometime of Christians , so may wee well say of great Ones ; m m Salvia●… de provid . l. 4. Ideò deteriores estis , quia meliores esse debetis : Therefore are they worse then others , if they be but as bad onely , because they ought to be better .

Or in regard of men , of others : because they are in the eie of the world , and all mens eyes are on them . n n Math. 5. 14. Tu 〈◊〉 totius medio 〈◊〉 in ●…rbe V●…ere cognosc●… : c●…nctis tua gentibus esse facta p●…lam : n●…c posse darir●…galibus vnquam 〈◊〉 vitijs : 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 f●…ti occ●…ltum nihil esse sini●… , 〈◊〉 per 〈◊〉 Intrat , & 〈◊〉 explorat fama recess●… ▪ Claud. de 4. Coss. Honor . Observ●…ntur a turba circumstante ●…culi 〈◊〉 ▪ liberiora omnia sunt his , quorum affect●… tegi possunt . 〈◊〉 nullum secre●…um iber●… est : in multa l●…ce fort●…na te posuit . Sen. ad Polyb. cap. 25. A city , saith our Sauiour , set on an hill cannot be hid . A blemish on the eye or the face is sooner seene then on any other part of the body . o o 〈◊〉 omne regi●… vitium domus . Sen. Agam. 2. 1. Omn●… a●…imi vitium tanto conspecti●… 〈◊〉 s●… Crimen 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 maior qui 〈◊〉〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 sat. 8. Faults are sooner espied in great Ones then in others : and p p Qui d●…missi in obscuro vitam agunt , si quid deliquere , pauci sciunt ; fama atque fortuna eorum pares sunt . Qui magno imperio prediti , in excels●… atatem agunt , eorum facta cuncti mortales novere . Salust . ad Caesar. Ad 〈◊〉 ●…culos , auresque trahis : ●…ua facta ●…tamus : Nec vox missa potest Principis ●…re tegi . P●…do ●…d Liv. Nostros motus pauci sentiunt ; tib●… non magis quam soli latere contingit multa circa t●… lux est : omnii●… in ist●… convers●…●…culi sunt . facta dictaque vestrae rum●…r excipit : Et ide●… nullis magis c●…endū est , quale fam●… habeant , quam qui qualemcunque mer●…rint , magnam habituri sint . Sen. de cle●… . l. 1. c. 8. not their principall actions and affections only ; but euen the least & the lightest things , euery looke & gate and gesture is in them eied & regarded .

But euen in regard of themselues too ; what for danger , what for dignitie .

What for danger , I say . Because their places as they are loafty , so they are q q Psal. 73. 15. Confrag●…sa in fastigi●… dig●… itatis vi●… est . n●…n in prer●…pto tantum illic s●…abis , s●…d in lubrico . S●…n . Ep. 84. Aul●… culmen lubricum . Se●… . Thyest. Lubric●… esse secundum apud reges l●…cum , Pius 2. apud Pla●…tinam . Sed & regum . In grad●…●…lto immi●…et & maior cade●…di facilitas , & l●…sionis in cadendo gra●… 〈◊〉 . Rob. Grosthed epist. 65. Qu●… excess●… videntur , 〈◊〉 sunt . Sen. de tranq c. 10. slippery . r r qui nim●…o 〈◊〉 hon●…res , Et nimi●…s poscebat opes ; numerosa parabat excels●… turris 〈◊〉 , vndè altior esset Casu●… , & impulsae praecepsimm●… 〈◊〉 . Iuven. sa●… . 10. Quid Crass●…s , quid Pompeios everti●… ? - Summu●… nempe locus nulla non 〈◊〉 petit●… . Ibid. Scitè itaqu●… de Themist . Pallad. an●…hol . 4. 52. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Many a mans aduancement hath beene his vtter-ouerthrow . s s Ipsa al●…itudo att●… summ●… . Macenas in Prometh . i. attonit●… habet . Sen. Epist. 19. Euen height it selfe maketh mens braines to swimme . And , t t Nunqu●…m solido stetit superba faelici●…as . 〈◊〉 apud Sen. sv●…sor . 2. Elatio 〈◊〉 , d●… extollit . Greg. mo●… . l. 23. c. 16. Et allevati●… ipsa ruina est . Idem l 1. epist. 5. Cito ignominia ●…it superb . gloria . p. Syr. 9. Insolency saith the Heathen man , neuer sate long sure . Examples are too too rise . u u Quantum ad successum access●…rit , ad ●…tum ( ad c●…telam saltem ) accedat . Sen. Ep. 19. They had neede therefore tread more warily that ride the ridge of an hill , then those that trauell on foote below in the plaine . Otherwise as x x H●…ili loco sed certa sedet sordid●… 〈◊〉 fortuna domu●… : Al●…è 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ●…dit . Sen. Herc. fur. 1. 2. Quicquid in altum fortuna tulit , Ruitur●…levat . 〈◊〉 rebus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 est . Nec insulsè Autor ocu●… mor. c. 12. Pr●…positioni qu●…t accidunt ? 〈◊〉 . Quid ? Casus tantùm . Qu●…t Casus ? Du●… . Qui ? Accusativ●… & Ablativ●… . H●…c onim pr●…latum 〈◊〉 timere ; seil . accusari à crimine , & ●…uferri à regimine , & sit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 . they are more in danger of falling ; so y y Quant●… 〈◊〉 altior , 〈◊〉 casus gravior . ●…cul . mor. c. 12. Qui cadit in plano ; vix hoc 〈◊〉 eve●…it vnquam ; Sic c●…dit vt 〈◊〉 surgere possit 〈◊〉 . At miser Elpenor tecto delaps●… ab alt●… , 〈◊〉 regi ●…bilis vmbras●… . Ovid. trist. l. 3. ●…l. 4. - c●…lsae 〈◊〉 graui●…re ●…asu Decid●…t turre●… . H●…rat . 〈◊〉 . l. 2. ●…d . 10. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 missa r●…nt . Ouid. trist. the higher the place is , the heauier will their fall be , and z z 〈◊〉 . 73. 〈◊〉 ▪ the more ●…earefully will they come downe , if they doe fall .

What for dignitie : that they may not disgrace themselues and their places . For a a lic 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & in 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 ▪ ad Polyb. cap. 2●… . 〈◊〉 ●…cent , propter hoc ipsum multa no●… licent . Ibid. Quam multa tibi non licent , quae ●…obis beneficio tuo lice●…t ? Idem de clement . l. 1. c. 8. many things may beseeme meane men , that will not beseeme great Ones . God , as b b 1 Sam. 10 9. he gaue Saul a new heart ; so he required of him a new cariage , when he called him to be a King . c c Gen. 14. 22 , 23. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Amic●… c●…mitanti de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spolijs per terram sparsis . Plut. Themist . A meaner man may stoope and take vp that without note , that Themistocles himselfe may not . And an other man , and a good man too , might haue receiued of the King of Sodome , hauing done him that seruice that Abraham did , that which c c Gen. 14. 22 , 23. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Amic●… c●…mitanti de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spolijs per terram sparsis . Plut. Themist . Abraham yet would not accept . d d Nehem. 7 10 , 11 When Shemaiah one of Sanballats consorts would cunningly haue perswaded Nehemie to take Sanctuary in Gods Temple for the sauing of his life ; Should such an one as I am , saith Nehemie , flie ? Who is he , being as I am , that to saue his life , would betake himselfe to the Temple ? For my part , I will neuer doe it . As if hee had said ; Though it might well enough beseeme some other priuate person in the like case , thus to withdraw himselfe for feare ; yet being as I am , it standeth not either with my duty , or with the dignitie of my place so to do .

And surely as any blemish is sooner seene in the face or in the eie , then in any other part of the body besides : so e e 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . P●…ndar . ad Hieron . Pyth. ode . 1. Magna in oculo reputatur macula , quae in caeteris mētris modica , aut etiam nulla ●…ēseretur . Autor . ocul . mor. cap. 12. propr . 7. that is no small bleamish there , that would seeme but small were it else-where : yea that is a sore eye-sore oft in the eye , that in the hand or the heele or any other limme lesse eminent , would be litle or no disgrace at all . f f 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Plut. praecept . polit. A wart or a freckle there is more then a scarre or a maine where it may be . As any defect in great persons is sooner espied and more eyed , then in other inferiour ones : so that is a great fault in great ones , that were not so great in meaner ones ; that is vnseemely in the other that might well enough beseeme the other ; and that is vgly in the one , that were but vnseemely in the other . For g g Monstrosa res est , gradus summus & animus inf●…mus , sedes prins●… & vita ima . Bern. d●… c●…nsid . l. 2. an high seate and a base minde , a principall place and a vulgar cariage , is a thing not vnsightly and vnseemly onely , but euen vgly and abominable , saith one of the Auncients .

Great-men may easily be entreated to take notice of the eminency of their places , for the clayming of Offices of respect and regard from others their Inferiours : Happy were it for them , could they as readily be induced seriously to consider of it for the exacting of wise and wary , discreet and seemly cariage from themselues , that they might not by their vnaduised and vndiscreet cariage , or by any base and vnbeseeming course , bring the least aspersion vpon either their persons or their places : If they could and would say to themselues , when they are either by others solicited , or of themselues inwardly moued to do ought , yea though it be not simply euil of it selfe , yet that it is such as wil not stand with their honour , and with the honour of their places , as Nehemie before , h h Nehem. 6. 12. Should such an one as I flie ? so , should such an one as I am , receiue gifts from i i 2 King 5. 16 , 26. Naaman , k k Non a cipio sturi●…m , nisi receperis preti●… . Galfrid . Carnot . Et Martinus Episcopo qui equum ei nec●…ssariū attulerat , Tolle eq●…um , decepistim●… ; nesciebam uegoti●… tibi imminere Bern de consider . lib. 4. Scelus est accipere a reo : quanto magis ab accusatore ? quam etiam sceleratius ab v●…reque ? Cic. Verr. 4. Ne donum munusve Proconsul accipiat . Sever. & Antonin . apud Vipian . D. l. 1. t. 16. l. 6. take bribes of such as haue busines before mee , or with mee , either by my selfe or by my seruants ? Should such an one as I am abuse my power and my place , to gild ouer a rotten post , or to shore vp an Alesigne ; or to make those that liue neere me , seruiceable to me for feare of worse vsage otherwise ? Should such an one as I am giue countenance to lewd and loose persons , or helpe to bolster and beare them out in their bad and base courses ? Do such things beseeme those that haue the stile of Gods by God giuen them ? Or l l ▪ Duns proximus ille est ; Quem rati●… , ●…ē●…ra movet , ius●… ique tenorem Flectere non odium cog●…t , non gratia svadet . Claud. de Mallij Consul . doth it beseem such to be transported with choler , to be corrupted with fauour , to be terrified with threats , to be puffed vp with pride ; to be greedy of base gaine , to be earthly minded , yea or to be ambitiously affected ; m m Ludu●… iocus saevi●…ia & 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Caio Calig . Sveto c. 29 , 32. to make a mocke of mens miseries , n n Summum ius summam crucem antiqui putarunt . Columel . l. 1. to pursue things to extremitie , o o Amos. 5. 11 , 12. to trample vpon the oppressed , p p Nehem. 5. 15. to suffer their seruants and Officers to tyrannize ouer Gods poore people ? &c. Doe these things beseeme those who as by God they are q Osores averitiae . Exod. 18. 21. called Gods , so should in their whole cariage of all others , come neerest him , whose name they beare .

Happy , I say , were it for Great-men , could they with themselues thus weigh well and seriously r r Nec tibi quid liceat , sed quid fecisse decebit , Occurrat , mentemque d●…met respectus h●…nesti . Claud. d●… 4. Honor. Consul . Quid deceat vos , non quantum liceat vobis spectare debetis . Cicer. pro Rab●…r . Vbi est sapientia 〈◊〉 ? In hoc , vt non solum quid possit , sed etiam quid debeat ponderet , nec quantum 〈◊〉 , memi●…erit solum , sed & quatenus commissum sit . Ibid. Id facere 〈◊〉 est quod d●…cet , non quod licet . S●… . octav. 2. 2. consider , what might stand not with the might of their power , but with the maiesty of their places : and abhorring all such base and vnworthy courses as may any way disparage them , endeauour so to resemble him in their whole cariage , whose person they represent , that those that see and obserue them , as they cannot but be seene and are as sure to be obserued , may truly say of them , as the Apostle speaketh in an other case , s s 1 Cor. 14. 25. Princeps Dijs 〈◊〉 , & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Pli●… . panegyr . Certè Deus est in vobis ; Surely God is in these men : They are not vnworthily tearmed gods and Sonnes of God , that in all their courses cary themselues so like vnto him .

And on the other side wretched and thrice-accursed are they , if their cariage be not correspondent to this their diuine title : if they be , as t t Legatur Plinij Panegyr . Traian●… d●…ctus . those Romane Emperours , sometimes were , Gods in name , but Deuills rather indeed . For as he saith of vngodly Christians , so is it no lesse true of vnworthy Rulers : u u Salvian . de prouid . l. 4. Reatus impij est pium nomen ; The God-like stile maketh their guilt the greater , that are Godlesse in their liues : that are any thing indeed and truth rather then that , which the diuine appellation imposed on them implieth .

And this for the generall course of your liues ; now further for your speciall cariage in your particular places .

Are you Gods then ? And hath x x 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Author . orthod q●…aest . ap●…d Iustin. q. 142. God , saith one of the Auncients , imparted as his stile , so his power and his place vnto you ? y y 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ibid. Then iudge yee , as God himselfe would judge . How is that ? may some say .

I answere : First aduisedly , not rashly . For z z Quod de ignorantia Aug. de ciuit . l. 22. c. 6. Temerit as Iudicis calamitas innocentis : The Iudges temeritie is the guiltlesse persons calamitie . And , a a Aug. de temp. serm. 236. Praeiudicium non est iudicium , sed vitium ; Rash iudgement is no iudgement but misiudgement , saith Augustine . And b b Ad paenitend ●…m properat , ci●…o qui iudicat . P. Syrus . Consil●…orum c●…leritatem c●…rem paenitentiam , sed eam seram & i●…lē sequi . Aetolus apud Liuium . l. 31. an ouer-hastie sentence causeth hastie repentance , if not a worse matter . It was c c 2 Sam. 1●… . 2 , 3 , 4. & 19. 26 , 27 , 29. Dauids case in Mephisosheths cause , as it was d d 1 Sam. 24. 10. Sauls before in Dauids cause : and that left vpon record , as other slips of Gods Saints ; e e Vt ruina ma●…orum sit cautela minorum . Greg. mor. l. 33. c. 15. Facilitas credulitatis callidissima v●…lpecula , c●…ius m●…gnorū nemi●…ē comperi sat●… cavisse versutias . Inde innocentium frequens addictio , inde praeiudicium in absentes . Bern. de consider . l. 4. Quid miramur si , ●…allimur , qui homines sumus , cum D●…id spiritum prophetiae haber●… soli●…us , contra innocentem sententiam pronunciavit , cum mentientis verba audivit . Greg. dialog. lib. 1. cap. 4. to the end that their tripping might make others , that come after them , f f Cautum debet reddere , non sequacem error 〈◊〉 . Cassiod . variar. l. 7. epist. 2. the more wary .

To this purpose God himselfe prescribing these his Deputies what course to take in such cases , willeth them not onely g g Deut. 1. 17. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Menand . to heare ere they judge indifferently , but h h Deut. 13. 14 , 15. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Cheraem . apud Stob. tom 2. c. 44. to sift and search and make diligent enquiry , for the discouery of the truth and the bolting out of it , ere they proceed to censure or to sentence .

Yea i i Bern ▪ de consider . ita gessit , vti iussit ; this course as by precept he commandeth them , so by his owne practise he further commendeth vnto them . To omit k k Gen. 3. 9 — 14. the enquiry made by him about Adam and Eues act ; and l l Gen. 4. 9 , 10. his questioning with Cain about the murther of Abel : m m Gen. 18. 20. 21. When the crie of Sodomes sinne was come vp to him into heauen , I will go downe , ●…aith he , and see whither they haue done according to the crie , that is come vp vnto me , or no. n n Omnipot●…ns Dominus , omnia sciens , cur ante probatienem quasi dubitat , nisi vt grauita●…is nobis exempliū propond●… , ne mala hominum ante 〈◊〉 credere quam probare ? Greg. mor. l. 19. c. 23. & Eucher . in Gen. l. 2. c. 28. God almighty that knoweth all things , before proofe made seemeth to doubt of something ▪ for what eause , but to giue vs an example of gravitie , not to be light of beleife in conceiuing euill of others ▪ before we see things plainly proued . For o o Quam vis vera sint quaedam , non tamen iudici facilè 〈◊〉 ▪ nisi ▪ 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 demonstrentur . 〈◊〉 . homil. 50. Legatur Chrysost. in Gen. hom. 42. though many things may be true ; yet ought not a Iudge to giue credit to them till he see euident proofe made of them . And it is no euill rule here , that as Lex quemque pessimum fore praesumat ; The Law should suspect that euery man may be corrupted ; and therefore leaue as litle as may be to the discretion of any ▪ so I●…dex optimu quemque esse praeiudi●…et , that A Iudge should suppose euery man to be guiltles and innocent ; and so esteeme of him . * * Inauditi enim , it , haud aequus suit . Senec. Med. 2. 2. till the contrary vpon discussion of his cause be discouered .

Secondly , p p Deut. 1. 16 , 17. iustly and vprightly ; without respect of persons for fauour , friendship or other sinister respects . Such is Gods judgement . q q Psalm . 119. 75. I know , ò Lord , that thy iudgements are iust . And , r r Psal. 92. 15. Deut. 32. 4. God is iust , and there is no iniquitie with him . And such therefore also should yours be : As Iehosaphat telleth the Iudges of his time in giuing them their charge : s s 2 Chron. 19. 7. Take heed that you doe iustly with an vpright heart : For there is no iniquitie with the Lord your God , nor respect of persons , nor receiuing of bribes .

Remember you that your seates are t t Psal. 122. 5. seates of iudgement , of iustice . And it is an euill of all others most foule and most fearefull , u u Eccles. 3. 16. cu●… inde manant iniuri●… , v●…de iur●… su●…rentur . Petr. Rl●…s . epist. 68. when oppression is found in the place of iudgement , and iniquity sitteth in the seate of iustice : x x Eccles. 10. 5. when a wrong sentence proceedeth from the face of him that ruleth and should do right .

y y Elementum in loco non 〈◊〉 . ex●…ra 〈◊〉 grave fit . The Elements weigh not heauie when they are in their owne place , as they do when they are out of them , in the roome of some other element . A man that diueth vnder water , perceiueth not the weight of it , though he haue a whole tun of water ouer his head : whereas were there but halfe an hogshead of the same water put into some vessell , and set aboue water on his head , he were by no meanes able to stand vnder the weight of it .

In like manner z z Psal. 41. 9. & 55. 12 , 13 , 14 , 20. is vice or sinne nothing so offensiue , while it is in its owne sea , as when it is in the seate of the contrary virtue . For a man to be coosoned by some cheating Companion , some shifting Mate that liueth , as we say , by his wits , we are wont to make no great matter of it ; He hath put a tricke vpon me ; and I am well enough serued : I had little reason to looke for other at his hands . But for a man to be ouer reached by one that he hath trade and trafficke with , and professeth to deale honestly and vprightly with him , that we can not so well brooke or beare ; we looke for square dealing at the hands of such , and to haue monies-worth for our mony .

So here for a man to be robbed by the high-way-side , or to haue his pocket or purse pickt by a common Diuer or Pick-purse , it is nothing so greiuous : there is wrong and robery in his owne proper subiect . But for the Iudge that sitteth in the seate of justice to wring or wrong the party that sueth to him for right : to be as the bush , or the bramble ( it is the Prophet a a Mica . 7. 4. Michaes comparison ) that teareth the fleece from the sheepe , that flieth to it for succour and shelter against the storme : yea worse then bush or bramble , in stripping not the fleece onely from the skin , but b b Mica . 3. 1 , 2 , 3. the skin also from the flesh , and the flesh from the bone ; and so c c Quid est aliud omnium dignita●… sublimium quam proscripti●… civitatum ? aut quid aliud qu●…rundam prafectura quam praeda ? nulla siquidem maior est popul●…rum dep●…latio quam potestas . Salviam de provid . l. 4. praying vpon those , whom they ought to protect , worse then those , against whom they ought to protect them : for Iudges and their Officers or Followers to be Partners and Sharers with Theeues and Murtherers : ( it is the Prophet d d Esai . 1. 23. Esaies complaint : ) When courses of law and iustice are so perverted and corrupted , that ( as e e Piu●… 2. teste Platina . one of the Popes sometime said , and it is no other similitude then the Prophet f f Ierem. 5. 26 , 27. Ieremie long before him vsed : ) g g Litigatores aves forum aream , iudicem 〈◊〉 , patronos 〈◊〉 . The Suiters are as Foules , the Pleaders as Foulers , the Court the Floore or the Plat , and the Iudge the Net : When h h 〈◊〉 pr●…varicatur & decipit . Cyprian ad Donat. Publicae ●…ercis nihil tam v●…le q●…am advocat●…m perfidi●… . Ta●…it . annal. lib. 11. the Counsellor treacherously betraieth his Clients cause , whom he hath vndertaken to defend ; and i the Iudge setteth his doome and sentence to sale ; and he that sitteth to reforme sinne , committeth sinne there himselfe ; hee that is called to redresse wrong , doth wrong there himselfe , and that to those that repaire to him for right ; and * * 〈◊〉 & seve●…è P. Syru●… ; I●…dex damn●…r , c●…m noce●…s absolvitur . Quanto 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 cum ●…citur ? maketh himselfe guilty by condemning the guiltlesse : k k E●…dem loc●… pone la●…ronem & p●…ratam , quo r●…gem animum latronis & pira●…ae 〈◊〉 . S●…n . de ben f. l. 2. c. 19. R●…mota enim iustitia quid sunt r●…gna nisi magna latrocinia ? Aug. de ciuit . l. 4 c. 4. Et de iniquo iudice , iudicijsque i●…iustis ●…dem dixeris ; esse illum latrone de●…eriorem , haec latroci●…ijs gemina , vel eisdem etiam d●…teriora . This it is of all other most greiuous and intolerable ; because here is now iniustice and iniquity in the roome of iustice and equity : Which as it maketh the transgression of such the more hainous here , so shall it cause their condemnation to be most hideous hereafter .

Thirdly , as iustly and vprightly , so boldly with confidence and courage : favoribus incorrupti , pavoribus interriti ; as not led aside with fauour , so not forced aside with feare . Else as Temerit as iudicis , so , Timidit as iudicis calamit as innocentis : as the Iudges temeritie , so the Iudges timiditie may proue the Innocents calamitie : as it was in poore Naboths case . And therefore Iethro adviseth Moses to choose out men as vncorrupt , so m m Exod. 18. 21. of courage to make Iudges and Rulers .

Remember to this purpose and to encourage you herein , what Moses telleth them there in giuing l 1 King . 21. them their charge : n n Deut. 1. 17. Feare not any mans face : for the iudgement is Gods . Ye are not the Kings Iudges , but o o 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Rom. 13. 4 , 6. Gods Iudges ; at least your iudgement it is his : as the Ministers of the word , though they be p p Act. 14. 23. Tit. 1. 5. called by men , and q q Rom. 15. 8 , 16. minister to man ; yet r r Colos. 4. 17. their ministerie it is Gods , and they are s s 1 Cor. 4. 1. 2 Cor. 3. 6. & 6. 4. & 11. 13. Ministers not of man but of God .

And what followeth hence ? Surely if your iudgement be Gods , and you iudge according to God , God he will vndoubtedly beare you out in it . So doth Iehoshaphat assure those that hee called to that office : t t 2 Chron. 19. 6. Take heede how you iudge : for you execute the iudgement not of man but of God : and he will be with you . He will neuer be wanting to his owne ordinance , nor faile to backe and beare out those that duly execute it .

See you do right therefore , because God is righteous : and therefore feare not to doe it , because it is his will you should doe it . u u 2 Sam 13. 28. Smite him , saith Absolom to his seruants of his brother Ammon , and slay him ; and feare not : haue not I bidden you ? bee bold therefore . So smite you the wicked , as their wicked courses shall require : smite them , I say , and feare not : hath not God bidden you ? be bold then . Absolom could not secure them : God is able to secure you : yea as x x 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Math. 28. 14. the high Preists promised the Souldiers , though it was more then they could make good ; 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . He will secure you : Do you your duty , and you shall not need to take further care for it . y y 2 Chron. 19. 6. The Lord will be with you : saith Iehosaphat : as to assist you , so to protect you . As hee hearteneth Ioshua : z z Iosh. 1. 9 , 5. Haue not I bidden thee ? be strong and couragious : feare not , nor quaile not ; for I the Lord will be with thee : as I was with Moses , so will I bee with thee ; I will neuer leaue thee , nor faile thee . And a a Rom. 8. 31. if God be with you , as the Apostle speaketh , who can be against you ? If b b Act. 18. 9 , 10. God be with Paul , no man shall be able to lay hand on him to hurt him . If c c 〈◊〉 . 1. 18 , 19. God be with Ieremie , though Prince and Priests and people band all together against him , yet shall he stand firme like an iron pillar , like a brasen bulwarke against them : they shall neuer be able to hurt him that God gardeth .

Whereas on the other side , if to please men you shall displease God , shrinking and swar●…ing from the rules that he hath prescribed you , and for feare of mans face deale vnfaithfully , in the execution of that office that he hath imposed vpon you : * * by stepping aside to shun danger , you shall but plunge your selues into greater danger . As the Prouerbe hath it : d d Qui ti●…ent pru●… , irruet sup●…r e●…s nix . Iob. 6. 16. 〈◊〉 Drus prou●… . 1. cent. 2. prou. 2. He that feares the frost shall be ouerwhelmed with the snow . e e Pruiua i●…rius g●…atur ; ●…ix de su●… ruit . qui i●… terram 〈◊〉 contra v●…ritatem pavet , eiusdem veritatis iram 〈◊〉 su●…tinet . qui conculcanda in infimis metuunt , à summis metuenda patiuntur . & cum transire ●…nt , quod caleare poterant , iudicium de supernis accersunt , quod tolerare nequaq●…am possunt . Greg. m●…r . l. 8. c. 12. While you ●…eare the frost of mans anger that lieth vnder your feete and might easily be ouercome ; you shall be ouerwhelmed with the snow of the diuine vengeance , that descendeth from heauen and cannot therefore be avoided . f f 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , vt Lucian . Necyom●…t . ●…umum fugientes in flammam incidunt . While you flie the smoke of mans displeasure , you shall fall into the 1 1 Deut. ●…2 . 22. flaming fire of Gods wrath , that burneth euen to the botome of hell .

g g Prou. 29. 25. Trepidus homo ponit tendiculam sibi : The fearefull man , saith Salomon , setteth a s●…are for himselfe . And it is in this case verified that the Prophets haue , and i i 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . the Iewes vse as a by-word . h h 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Esai . 24. 17 , 18. Ier. 48. 43. Hee that flieth from the noise of feare , falleth into a pit , and he that getteth vp out of the pit , is caught in the snare . We may well apply it with some transposition to the present occasion . When matters are to be heard before you , and some Great-mans letters come , whom the one party hath some interest in , here if you be fearefull of doing your duty , your feare setteth a snare for you , and if for feare of offending him you decline from the right , while you flie from the noise of a false feare , you fall into a true snare : or while you seeke to shun one snare , you fall into another , a worse snare : while you seeke to shun the snare of mans offence which you might easily haue wound your selues out of againe , yea k k Psal. 124. 7. God would haue broken for you and set you free from ; l l 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Apostolius . Fugi●…ns pluviam incidit in lacunam . Drus. l. 1. cent . 1. prou. 36. you fall into the pit of Gods heauy indignation , out of which it is questionable whither euer you get vp againe or no.

In a word ; it is a sinne for any man to feare man more then God , and for feare of man to doe ought that may displease him : but it is much more a foule shame for those that are tearmed Gods to feare any but God , and out of feare to faile in the doing of that duty , which with courage and confidence God hath called them to execute .

Fourthly and lastly , seuerely where God himselfe ( were he present ) would shew seuerity , and hath willed seuerity to be showne . As yee haue iust cause to m m Neque enim debet dispensat●…r crudelis esse , vbi paterfamilias misericors est . August . alicubi . take heed how ye deale rigorously , where God would haue lenity and clemency vsed , as n n 2 Sam. 21. 2. Saul with the Gibeonites , * * Parvis peccatis ven●…am , magnis severitatem commodare , nec p●…na semp●…r , sed 〈◊〉 paenitenti●… contentus esse . Tacit. Agricol . in lesser and slighter slips o o Dat veniam c●…rvis , vexat censura columbas . Iuven. sat. 1. with silly weake ones , in simplicity and infirmitie ouer-taken rather , then offending out of malice and wilfull contempt : that were as the Prophet speaketh , p p Amos. 5. 7. & 6. 12. to turne iudgement into gall : q q Etiam nocentes 〈◊〉 supra meritum manifesta iniquttas est . In quantum enim punitio excedit del●…ctum ; in tantū●…tia punit●… Rob. Gr●…thed ▪ 〈◊〉 . 4●… . It is as well a point of iniustice aboue desert to punish the guiltie , as it is without desert , to punish those that be wholy guiltlesse .

So haue ye no lesse cause to beware , least , as r r 1 S●…m . 15. 9. ●…ul with Agag , you spare there , where God would haue you seuere . s s Deut. 13. 8 , 9 , 10 , 15 , 16. Thine eye , saith he , shall not spare them , that the Lord thy God may spare thee : neither shalt thou shew any mercy vnto them , that God may shew mercy vnto thee . t t Prou. 17. 15. Aequ●… iniquitas est , non punire nocentes , & punire innocentes . Grosthed ibid. Non eris innocens , si aut punias eum cui parcendum esset , aut parc●… ei qui fuerat puni●…ndus . Bern. de consider . l. 2. It is alike iniustice not to punish the guilty , ( as the quality of the crimes committed by them shall require , ) and to punish the guiltlesse .

u u ●… adsit Regula peccatis qua 〈◊〉 irroget aequas : Ne 〈◊〉 dignum horribili sectere slagello , Aut ferula caedas meritum m●…iora sub●…re verbera . - Horat. serm. lib. 1. sat. 3. A discreet hand therefore is to be held of you in the administration of iustice , and in the sentencing and censuring of Transgressors and Offenders . You must remember that you are sent by God as x x Deut. 25. 2 , 3. with a rod for some , so z z Rom. 13. 4. with a sword for others , y y 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . 1 Pet. 2. 14. to take vengeance on malefactors . And therefore you fulfill not your charge , you discharge not your trust , if you put not the power which to that purpose he hath giuen you in practise : And a a Vnde punitur , si fecerit iniussus inde punietur , nisi fecerit iussus . Quod si ita est iubente imperatore ; quanto magis iubente cr●…atore , cuiu●…●…on est f●… iussa contemnere ? Aug. de ciuit . ●… . 1. c. 26. you shall answer for it with your owne soules , as Ahab ; not onely , b b 1 King . 21. 19. if you slay Naboth , but c c 1 King . 20. 42. if you slay not Benhadad . If you let murtherers , and Masse-preists soule-murtherers , & other like malefactors escape , whom God hath committed into your hands , d d Naeista vobis mansuet●…do & misericordia in miseri●… vertet . Cato apud Salust . in Catilin . Misericordia in pernici●… c●…sura est Memmi●… apud 〈◊〉 Iugurth . videte vt profit illis ignosci ▪ quos ad panam Deus ipse d●…it . Quod ad me attin●…t , non sum crudeli●…●… sed v●…reor : ne quod 〈◊〉 , patiar . Petron. satyr . Itaque hîc tenet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 apud S●…ob . 〈◊〉 . 2. c. 9. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . your liues shall go for theirs , you shall answer it with your owne liues for the sauing of their liues .

Yea , you shall not onely bring that curse vpon your selues , that e e Ier. 48. 10. the Prophet denounceth against that man that doth the worke of God negligently , that with ▪ holdeth his sword from shedding of bloud when God calleth him thereunto : But , like either fearefull or vnfaithfull Physitians , who by sparing an ounce or two of corrupt bloud , that were better out then in , infect and taint all the rest , and so endanger the whole body ; p p Qui feri●…ndi petestatem habet , solus in culpa est , si culpa non feritur qua ferienda est , & ●…o imp●…tu quo ferienda vel potius fulminanda est . Bern. Epist ▪ 23●… . Si ●…st 〈◊〉〈◊〉 steterit , verendum est ●…e status ip●… sit casus v●…ster , d●… quicquid mali adiecerit , non illi iam s●…d vobis merit●… i●…tabitur . Ibid. you shall bring vpon your selues the guilt of all such villanies as such desperate wretches shall by your preposterous and q q Malorum omnium prima mater incuria ▪ impunitas incuria s●…les , insolenci●… mater , r●…dix impudentiae , n●…trix viti●…rum . Bern. de consider . l. 3. Impunit●… a●…sum parit , 〈◊〉 excess●… . Ibid. l. 4. pernicious lenity and impunity either surviue or r r Sicut est misericordia s●…viens , sic & crudelit●… parcens , Aug. Ep 54. Pernicios●… misericors , vbi se●… esse debuer●… . Bern. de temp. 94. be encouraged to commit ; yea and the wrath of God at length also vpon the whole state , which by such meanes you shal cause to be totally defiled therewith . For s s N●… . 35. 33. the whole land , saith the Holy Ghost , is polluted with bloud , and with the like enormious crimes , and cannot be purged againe but by the bloud of those that shed bloud , and by the condigne punishment of such as commit such crimes .

In a word : as you beare the name of Gods , so let your conversation and courses , your cariage both generall and speciall be Godlike , correspondent to this great and glorious title giuen you of God : that you may not be as hee said sometime of the Heathen Philosophers and their writings , like Apothecaries pots , t t Qu●…rum tituli habent remedia , py●…ides venena . Lact. instit. l. 3. c. 15. that haue an inscription of some soueraigne medicine without , when there is either nothing at all , or that which is worse then nothing , nothing but some rancke poison within .

Hitherto wee haue shewed what this stately and lofty stile of Gods giuen to Rulers by God himselfe requireth of them : let vs now see what it exacteth of vs that liue vnder them . That which the Apostles tell vs both Peter and Paul . If Magistrates be Gods , and their power and place be of God , then must u u Rom. 13. 1. euery soule be subiect to the higher power , x x Rom. 13. 5. not for feare of mans wrath but for conscience of God : Then y y 1 Pet. 2. 13 , 14. submit your selues you must to euery humane ordinance for the Lords sake ; be it vnto the King as soueraigne , or to Presidents and other inferiour Gouernours , as those that be also sent of him .

Where commeth iustly to be taxed the intolerable pride of that a a 2 Thes. 2. 3. Man of sinne , who not onely b b Lex Canonica simplicit●…r exemit Clericos 〈◊〉 in ciuilibus tum in criminalibus caus●…s , cui cedere debet lex Imperialis , cum possit Pontifex Imperatoribus iu●…ere in eis qu●… ad Ecclesiae autoritatem spectant . Bellarm. de Cleric . lib. 1. c. 28. propos . 3. rat. 2. exempteth himselfe and his Shauelings from all ciuill subiection ; but euen c c Sic Alexand. 3. Friderici i. Imper. pede collum compressit . Philip. Bergom suppleus . an. 1160. Petr. Iustin. rerum Venet. lib. 2. & 〈◊〉 . Masson . in Alex. 3. ●… Cae ▪ le●… Henrici 6 Imper. capiti coronam pedibus imposuit , eisdemque denu●… dimovit ▪ Roge●… . H●…den 〈◊〉 par. poster . in Rich. 1. & Ranulph . pol●…ebron . l. 1. c. 26. trampleth vpon the crownes of Kings , in most presumptuous manner , d d 2 Thes. 2. 4. aduancing himselfe aboue all that is called God , and carying himselfe as God , yea e e V●…s nobis à Deo 〈◊〉 estis : inquit Constantinus Episcopos ●…llocutus . Ni●…ol . pp. apud Grat. dist. 96. ex Ruffin ▪ hist. lib. 1. c. 2. Episcopi ergò sunt Dij . Adrian apud Nauclorum l. 2. At Pontif●… Rom. est Episcop●… . Episcop●…rum : Ergò & Deus Deorum . Marsil . defens . pac●… pa●…●… . c. 2●… . making himselfe a God of Gods ; as out of Pope Nicolas his grounds , faith Marsilius of Padua , his owne Canonists well collect .

The Auncient Fathers were not acquainted with this diuinity of the Popes Deity , they were vtterly ignorant of it . f f 〈◊〉〈◊〉 , ●… hominem à Deo secundum , solo Deo minorem . Tortull ad Scapul . We worship the Emperor , saith Tertullian , as a man that is Gods second , or next to God , inferiour to none but to God alone . g g 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 That these things are enioyned not secular men onely , saith Chrysostome , but euen Priests and Monkes also , the Apostle sheweth euidently when he saith , Let euery soule bee subiect to the higher power . h h 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Be thou Apostle , or Euangelist , or Prophet , or whatsoeuer thou beest else , i i 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . thou must not onely obey them , but euen be subiect vnto them . And Bernard , though hee liued but in a bad and corrupt age , writing to a great Byshop ; k k Si omnis anima , etiam vefi●…a . quis vos excepit ab vniversitate ? Qui tentat excipere , conatur decipere . Bern. ad Henric. Sen●…nens . epist. 42. If euery soule must be subiect to the higher power , then yours also among the rest . For who hath giuen you an exemption from this generall iniunction ? He that endeauoureth to exempt you , doeth but seeke to delude you .

In a word to apply a speech of Optatus spoken of him by that insolent Schismaticke Donatus to the present proud Romish Prelate ; l l Cum supra Imperatorem non sit nisi Deus qui fecit Imperatorem ; dum s●… Donatus super Imperatorem extollit , iam quasi hominum excesserat m●…tas , non verendo cum qui post Deum ab hominibus timebatur . Optatus advers. Parmen. l. 3. Since aboue the Emperour there is none but God that created him ; ( and not the Pope then , as m m Caelestinus facto superius relat●… designavit , quod Papa potestatem habet creandi Imperatorem &c. Polychron . l. 7. c. 26. Inde Distich . Templi Lateran . vestibulo inscriptu●… ; Re●… homo ●…it Pap●… , s●…it quo dan●…e coronam . Et Stanis●… . Oric●…ou . in Canfess . Cathol. Qui Regem anteponit Sacerdoti , i●… anteponit creaturam Creat●…ri . they say : ) the Pope aduancing himselfe aboue the Emperor , goeth beyond humane bounds , and carieth himselfe not as man but as God , in not reverencing him who of men is to be feared next after God .

But to leaue that Antichrist to his transcendent not eminency but insolencie : we are admonished , when Kings and Gouernors are by God tearmed Gods , so to account them as God calleth them , and accordingly to cary our selues in our demeanour toward them : to obey and be subiect , as one saith , n n 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Basil. Bonis tanquam Deo ; malis propter Deum . vnto good Rulers as God , bad Rulers for God ; or rather , o o T●… bonis quam malis . & tanquam Deo & propter Deum . to both good and bad as well as God as for God . And herein is the true difference betweene the religious and the irreligious subiect , that p p Ier. 44. 17. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . P●…rpuram colentes , non Deum . Themist●… apud Socratem hist. lib. 3. ●… . 25. the one worshippeth God for man , q q 1 Pet. 2. 13. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . the other obeyeth man for God .

Yea not onely are we to take heede of rising against them , and laying of violent hands on them . For r r 1 Sam. 26. 9. Who can lay his hand on the Lords annointed , and be guiltlesse ? s s Qui insurgit in Christum Domini , insurgit in Dominum Christi . Psal. 2. 1. Who so riseth against the Lords annointed , ariseth against the Lord himselfe by whom he is anointed . t t Rom. 13. 2. Who so resisteth the higher power , resisteth Gods owne Ordinance : and those that so doe , procure destruction to themselues : Or of offring the least outward disgrace vnto them . u u 1 Sam. 24 6. It stucke shrewdly in Dauids stomacke , and troubled his tender conscience not a litle , that he had snipped away but a litle shred of the skirt of Sauls coate : But also x x Eccles. 10. 20. how we do euen but in secret speak euill of them , or in heart onely wish euill to them : Sithence God , y y 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Plut. ad prefect . indoct . D●… enim imaginem l●…a . b●…t Rex , sicut Christi Episcopus . Aug. vet. Test. quest. ●…5 . whose person they represent , and z z Principes enim Dei vices gerunt . Strigel . ad 1. Paral. 29. 23. whose place they here supply , hath threatned both to disclose it , and to be avenged on vs for it . He hath giuen them his owne name , and * * 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . - Theocrit . idyll . 17. 1 Nuncupativè , non essentialiter Greg. in Ezech. lib. 1. hom. 3. he will seuerely reuenge whatsoeuer iniurie or indignity is done vnto them , euen as done vnto himselfe .

Hitherto we haue considered of the dignitie , eminencie and excellencie of Princes and Rulers in regard of their place and diuine constitution : Now a word or two withall of the latter branch , concerning their frailty , misery and mortality in regard of their naturall estate and humane condition .

Princes therefore and Iudges , though they be Gods 1 by name , yet are they not so by nature . It is not a a 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Psal. 68. 4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Psalm . 83. 18. ratio vtriusque Exod. 3. 14. Iah or Iehouah a name of Essence , but b b 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 n●…men 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 potestatis sive potentat●…s , sicut 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 potentia . E●…h or Elohim a name of Office that is giuen them . It is not true of them that they say of the Pope , * * Mutatio nominis , mutatio hominis . Gloss. ad Proam . 61. Decretal . The man changes when his name changeth : as if the change of the name bred a change of their nature . c c 〈◊〉 adhuc quod eras : & non minus ho●… as , quam quod factus e●… post , f●…rte & magis . illud natus es . ●… mutatus hoc , non in hoc mutatus . non reiect●… illud , sed istud adiect●… . Bern. de consid. l. 2. It is is not their place that can alter their persons : nor their diuine constitution that can strip them of their natiue condition . Though they sit aboue others , yet * * 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Eurip. Archel●… apud Stob. c. 45. must they die as others . Though they may liue like Gods , yet must they die like men , euen as other ordinary men are wont to doe .

We need go no further then experience for the proofe of this point . For d d Psal. 49. 10. we see that wise men , and so great men , die as well as others . As e e 2 Sam. 11. 25. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Homer . Il. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . exaquat d●…os , Licet imp●…res si●…t , gladius . ▪ Sen. Thob . act. 4. the sword taketh away weake and strong indifferently : so f f Certè aqua more est . Sen. Tr●…ad . act. 2. s●… . 3. Aequa leg●… necessitas sortitur in●… & 〈◊〉 . Horat. Carm. l. 3. ●…de . 1. Pallid●… mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum taber●… , Reg●… turres . Ibid. 1. 4. death sweepeth away great and small , high and low alike .

And no maruell if it be so . For g g Wisd. 7. 1 , 2. Licet diversa sit dignitas , eadem tamen nascendi moriendique conditi●… est . Anton. apud Athanas. they haue all one and the same originall ; the like breeding and birth . They are all h h Contra quam de regenitis 1 Pet. 1. 23. bred not of incorruptible , but of corruptible seede : And therefore i i Eccles. 3. 2. haue their time as of birth , so k k Qu●… nata sunt , ●…a omnia 〈◊〉 aiunt . Cassius Homina annal. l. 2. apud Nondum . Quisquis ad vitam editur , ad mortem destinatur . Sen. ad Polyb. c. 30. Et cui n●…sci c●…igit , morir●…stat . Idem epist. 99. Moritur enim omne quod nascitur . Diuinum autem id est , quod n●…c 〈◊〉 habet n●…c occasum . Minut. Octau . of decay and of death .

They are made of one mould : euen great-men of the same metall that other men are . What is man , saith one of the Auncients , but l l 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Greg. Naz. soule and soile ? the one m m Esai . 2. 22. a puffe of winde , and n n Gen. 2. 7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Sept. the other a pile of dust . What is he , but , as he said sometime of o o Suillo pecori animam pro sale d●…tam , qua carn●…m serva●…t , ne putisceret . Varro dere rust . l. 2. c. 4. Cic. d●… nat. Deor. l. 2. & d●… 〈◊〉 . l. 5. & Pli●… . hist. 〈◊〉 . l. ●… . c. 51. swine , a litle p p Car●… mor●…icina . Sen. epist. 52. putri●… . Idem ad Marciam . c. 11. rotten flesh , that hath the soule giuen it as salt to preserue it from further putrefaction awhile , as the seare-cloth doth the corps deceased ? And no other matter are the greatest or mightiest men made of . They are flesh , as others . q q Nehem. 5. 5. Our flesh , say the poore oppressed ones , is as the flesh of our brethren . And r r Esai 40. 6. 1 Pet. 1. 24. all flesh is grasse , and all the glory of it as the flower of the field : s s Psal. 90 6. that in the morning is greene and flourisheth , but ere euening is either cut downe by the mowers hand , or decaieth and withereth of it selfe . They are earth , as others . t t Psal. 2. 9. Earthen vessels , the Psalmist compareth them to . u u Psal. 2. 10. Earth they iudge , and x x 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Psal. 10. 18. earth they are . y y August . de temp. 94. Iudicani terra●… iudices terrae : They are earthen Iudges , saith ▪ Augustine , that iudge here vpon earth . Nothing but z z 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gen. 18. 27. Salubris capula , vt cogitans te summum pontificem , attendas pariter & vi●…ssimum cinerem non fuisse sed esse . Bern. de 〈◊〉 ▪ l. 2. N●…n pulver●…ū tantum sed ipsum pulverem . Partus ad Gen. 2. 7. dust and ashes ; as Abraham saith of himselfe .

Againe Great-men as they are made both for body and soule of the same matter that others are ; so are their soules and bodies tied together with a a Psal. 73. 4. no firmer or stronger bands then other ordinary mens are . b b Eccles. 8. 8. Nulli i●…sso cessare licet ; Nulli scrip●…ū preferre di●…m . Sen. Here. fur . act. 1. They haue no more power ouer the Spirit in the day of death to detaine it , then other ordinarie men haue . c c 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Apud L●…rtium Diogenes Perdicc●…m ●…rtē minit●…nti . Tu qui ●…e Deum credis successu aliquo tumens , quantulo serpentis 〈◊〉 dente p●…rire potes ? Plin. 〈◊〉 . nat. l. 7. c. 7. Some litle worme may doe as much by them , as they can doe to any man . d d 〈◊〉 de Pont. R●…m . in Hadriam 4. A flie or a gnat strangled that proud Pope our Countreyman , that made the Emperor stoope to hold him his stirop . And , I say not , a litle fish-bone , e e Sic 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 Senator Rom. 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 h●…stu 〈◊〉 pilo strangulatu●… est . Plin. ibid. & Val. Max. l. 9. c. 14. an haire , or a crumb of bread onely going downe the wrong way , may endanger , yea may choake and make an end of the mightiest Monarch in the world .

They are subiect to sicknesse as well as others ; yea more vsually then others , as being more crasie commonly then others are , more hardly bred then they . f f 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Plus . de tranquill . It is not a golden ring that can keepe the finger from a felon , nor a vel●…et ●…lipper that can fray away the goute , nor a crowne or diadem , that can cure the headach , nor a purple roabe that can free one from feuers . g g Act. 12 23. Sicknesse deaths Purseuant oft arresteth them , and death it 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 on them in the very place of 〈◊〉 ▪ where they passe sentence of life or death vpon others , euen as they are sitting on the Bench.

They are subiect to casualties as well as others . h h Vitrei 〈◊〉 ; inter vari●…s cas●… 〈◊〉 . Aug. de verb. Do●… . We are of a glassie 〈◊〉 , saith one , and wee walke amiddes many casualties . And i i Eccles. 12. 6. the p●…t ▪ we say , goeth so oft to the well , that a●… length it commeth home broken . k k Quem saepe ●…sit cas●… , aliquando in●…vit . P. Syrm. He that misseth many of them , yet some one at length lighteth on , that maketh an end of him .

And is it not so with Princes as well as others ? Yes vndoubtedly . They are subiect to casualties as much as others . Yea l l . they are subiect to casualties more then others their inferiours . They die not onely as others , but oft-times before others . m m 〈◊〉 ipso pondere magna , Ceditque oneri fortuna 〈◊〉 . Sen. Agam. 1. 2. Su●… & ipsa Roma viribus ruit . Horat. ●…pod . 16. The massie metall sincketh , when n n 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pindar . pyth . 〈◊〉 . 2. 〈◊〉 . Adspicis vt summa cort●…x l●…uis innat●…t vnda ; Cum 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . 3. 4. the corke and the reede swimmeth : the sturdy and stately o o 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 vid●…t ro●… frangi Sen. 〈◊〉 ▪ oke oft falleth or is felled , when the litle and low hawthorne bush by it standeth still . They were safe enough that sat in the same caroch with him ▪ when p p H●… 4. Gall. ●… . that puissant Prince in the middest of his pompe and preparation for some extraordinarie enterprise , was by the hand of a base Villaine in butcherly manner with a knife stucke like a beast .

They are liable lastly to Gods iudgement as well as others . Yea they are by him made examples oft r Num. 16. 29. vnto others . q q Dan. 7. 9 , 10 , 11. Futuri 〈◊〉 praeiudicium . vt Tertull . apolog. He preuenteth the last iudgement sometimes by sitting here vpon such : and in the persons of some few before-hand sheweth what all others that take their courses , must one day likewise come to .

They die , said I , as other ordinary men vsually doe ? Nay ; they die otherwise then other ordinary men are wont to doe . f If these men , saith Moses , die the common death of all other men , or if they bee visited in no other manner then all other men are ; then the Lord hath not sent mee . They die so that men know not what diseases they die of . And s s Ad generum Cere●…ū sine caede & vulnere pauci Desce●…dunt Reges & ficca morte tyranni ? Iuven. sat. Quota pars moritur tempore fati ? Rarum est f●…lix idemque senex . Sen. Herc. fur. 2. 2. few Kings or Tyrants , saith the Heathen man , die either in their beds , or a drie death : what for mans mischeife and malice : As they are more eminent , so t t Summa petit liv●…r : per●…ant altissima vent●… Sili●…●…ell . pun . l. 11. Nubibus ipsis inserta caput Turris pluvio v●…pulat austro . S●…n . Agam. 1 , 2. Admota ●…therijs culmina sedibu●… E●…ros excipiunt , excipiunt Notos , Insan●… Bor●…ae min●… , Imbriferumque Corum . Idem Hip pol. 4. 2. Vt alta ventos semper excipiunt iuga ; Imperia sic excelsa fortun●…●…biacent . Idem nec . 1. 1. they are more eyed , more envied , more aimed at : and u u ▪ any one is Lord of their life , that setteth light by his owne life : And what againe for the right dreadfull and iust x x ▪ iudgement of God ; with whom the life of the mightiest Monarke i●… but as y y . a nip of his ●…aile : and he is terrible among these earthly Gods ; as he z z . that can when he will , doe as much , and doth oft , and * * Math. 10. 28. much more vnto them , then they can do vnto any of those that liue vnder them .

They dye like men ? nay ( with reuerence be that spoken , which the spirit of God himselfe speaketh ) they dye many of them like beasts . As abusing their power they liue a a Psal. 49. 12 20. like beasts ; and become in that regard b b 〈◊〉 est comparari ●…mento quam nasci iumentum . Chrysost. in ascens Dom. tom. 3. worse than beasts here : so through the iust iudgment of God , they dye many times more like beasts than like men , c c Psal. 49. 14. like sheepe , saith the Psalmist , dying in a ditch : as it was said of Pope Boniface , that d d Intrauit vt vulpes , regnauit vt leo , mortuu●… est vt 〈◊〉 . Platin. & Stella . vit. Pont. & Math. W●…stmonast . l. 2. he came in like a Fox , he ruled like a Lyon , and dyed like a Dog : so e e 2 Chron. 21. 15 , 19 Ioram rotting away by peece-meale , till his very entrailes fall out : f f Ier. 22. 19. Iehoiakim dragged and cast out like carion , and g g Asini sepultura s●…pelietur . vise Drus. in prouerb . l. 1. cent. 1. buried with the buriall of an Asse : and h h 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Act. 12. 23. Agrippam Ioseph●… app●…llat legend●… antiq. l. 19. c. 7. Herode eaten vp with vermine , ( as k k . others of his rancke not a few ) when but a litle before he had bin applauded and admired as i i Act. 12. 22. Vox non hominis sed D●…i . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Ad 〈◊〉 ipse plaga affectus , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Ios. ibid. a God . They so dye , that l l 〈◊〉 . 6●… . ●…5 . I●…r. 29 ▪ 22. they leaue their names for a curse behinde them after their death : m m Psal. 83. 9 , 11 , 10. Make them and their Princes like n n Iudg. 7 25. Oreb & Zeeb ; or like o o Iudg. 8. 21. Zeba and Zalmanah , or like p p Iudg. 4. 11 , 21 , 24. Iabin and Sisera : that perished at End●…r , and lay rotting there aboue ground vnburied , like dunge that lyeth spread abroad on the surface of the earth .

Yea that which is of all other most fearefull ; q q Post greges ●…unt depravatione natur●… ; 〈◊〉 & extremit●…te 〈◊〉 . Bern. in Cant. 35. as such are worse than beasts in their life ; so shall they fare worse than beasts after death . For r r Deus 〈◊〉 ration●…m non exiget , quibus rationem non d●…dit . Bern. ibid. God will neuer demand a reason of them , whom with reason he hath not indued . The brute beasts shall neuer be called to any account . t t Homin●… ad tremendum illud iudicium stare habent , non autem & pecud●…s . Bern. ibid. There is no iudgment for them that haue no iudgment themselues . But s s Heb. 9. 26. it is appointed for all men , and among the rest then for great men , that once they must dye , and after that commeth iudgement , which they must also come vnto among others . u u Luk. 16. 22 , 23. The Rich mans case in the Gospell , while he liued clad in purple , sheweth great men what after death must become of them , which way they must goe when they dye , if they abuse their power while they liue , if they be not x x Prou. 19. 22. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ; Ag●…silaus . Plut. de laude sui . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Clem. paedag . l. 2. c. 12. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Eustath . ad odyss. Hoc tantum caeteris maior , quo melior . Plin. paneg . as well good as great . And as our Sauiour saith of Iudas ; y y Math. 26. 24. It had bin much better for him had he neuer bin borne : so may we well say of such , It had bin much better for them , if they had neuer at all bin ; or if they could vtterly cease to be . Better therefore by much shall it be with the beasts than with such . For z z Non est dubium deterius fore his qui sie ●…runt , qua●… illis qui omni●… non ●…runt . Ber●… . in Cant. 35. it must needs be far worse with those that so are as they shall be for euer , than with those that are not at all , that are now no more than if they had neuer bin .

A point of great importance , and that might proue of good vse , had I longer time to insist on it , as well for others as for themselues .

For themselues , for great ones . a a 1 Tim. 6. 17. Charge the rich men of this world , saith the Apostle to Timothie , that they be not high-minded . And the great men of this world haue as much neede of the like charge ( b b Vermis divit iarum superbia est . grandis est animus qui inter divitias isto morbo non tentatur . magn●… est dives , qui non id●… magnum se put at quia dives , Aug. de temp. 205. & 212. & homil. 13. & de verb. Dom. 5. as riches , so c c Contemptor animas & sup rbia commun●… nobilitatis malum . Salust . ●…ug . Li●…et multos ●…ringat aduersi●…as , multo tamen pulr●…s extollit pr 〈◊〉 B●…rn ▪ de ●…mp 52. In al●…o situm non alta sapere difficile est . Idem , epist. Magnae falicitatis est à 〈◊〉 non v●…ci . Aug. de v rb . Dom 13. honors are wont so to transport men , and to make them forget themselues : ) to looke to it , and beware that they be not puffed vp with pride in regard of their places ; that they looke not big on their brethren , though they sit aboue them ; d d Rom. 11. 21. & 12. 16. Al●…us sedens altum sapiens ne sis Bern. de consider . l. 2. Et Blesens . in Can ▪ Epis●… . that they be not loftie minded , though they be seated aloft .

e e Deut. 17. 20. He shall not lift himselfe vp aboue his Brethren ; saith God by Moses of the King himselfe . Though you be the first-borne , f f Psal. 89. 27. primogeniti , God hath giuen you g g Gen. 4. 7. & 27. 29. & 49. 8. the birth-right , ius primogeniturae ; yet are they still your brethren . You are h h Rom 8. ●…9 . the first-borne , as he saith of our Sauiour , but amongst many Brethren . * * Act. 17. 26. Esa●… . 58. 7. Both you and they are Adams sonnes all , yea and Eues too , i i 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Chrysost: ad Rom. serm. 19. Omnes homines vnius naturae partus sunt , intra eius iuxta concepti viscera , & vno foti atque effusi vtero . Velut iure quodam germanitatis connex●… , ab vno patre conditi , & vna ●…atre , tanquam fratres vterini , editi , Ambr. de Abr. l. 2. c. 6. fratres germani , vterini , brethren on both sides , all by one and the same venter . k k Iob. 31. 13. Contemne them not therefore ; but say as Iob saith , l l Iob. 31. 15. Legatur Greg. mor. l. 21. c. 11. Did not he he that made me in the wombe , make them too ? did he not fashion vs both m m 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 n David Kimchi , & Merc. & Leo Iudae . Et Sept. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . in one wombe ? as some read it : or , did not o o Vnus Hi●…r . idem : I●… : vnus atque idem . Pisc. one and the same person fashion vs both in the wombe ? as others rather .

Though you be now aboue them , yet p p Quid Regi & misero commune ? Nasci & Mori . Epictetus Hadriano . there is no difference betweene you and them , either in birth or in death : you were both alike before death ; you shall be both againe alike after death : q q Inter vallis distinguimur ; exitu ●…quamur . S●… ▪ ep. 99. It is but in the interim of this short life only , that you are somewhat in some things vnlike . It is with men as with Counters : howsoeuer while the account lasteth , one standeth for a penny , and an other for a pound , yet are they all r r 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . quod alio sensu proverb●…aliter dicitur . Aequales calculi . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Phocylid . Counters alike before and after the account , when they are togither in the bag , aut in vtero , aut in vrna , s s Aequat enim omnes ●…nis . impares ( imò , par●…s ) ●…ascimur , pares morimur ▪ non distinguimur nisi dum sumu●… . Vbi ad finem mortalium ventum est , omnium siremps lex esto . Sen. epist. 91. Nescit natura discernere quando nascimur , nescit quando de●…icimus . omnes similes ereat , omnes simili gremio claudit sepulcr●… . nud●… fudit in lucem ●…●…dos recipit terra quos edidit . quis discernat species mortuorum ? redoperi terram , & divites , si potes , deprehende . Ambr. de Nabuth . c. 1. either in the wombe , or in the tombe .

t t E●… quis e●… ▪ sed noli obliuisci etiam quid fueris . opportunè cum eo quod es , etiam quod ante eras consideras . quid dico , eras ; & ●…unc es . quid desi●…as intueri , quod non desistit esse ? Vn●… consideratio quid fueris , & quid sis : nam quis sis factus , altera . non opertet vt illa extundat illam in scrutim●… tui . quid enim tibi horum videtur ad purum esse tui & ad te principal●…us pertinerae , quod factus , an quod natus . Bern. de consider . l. 2. Consider therefore as well what you haue bin , as what you are , or rather what you continue still ; euen mortall u u E●…ines , excellis , vt honor , vt potestas , qu●… super homines quidem , hominum sunt tamen . Pl●… panegyr . men as well as others , and as much as euer ; though you be now here termed Gods for a time , and carry your selues accordingly . * * 2 Cor. 4. 7. We beare this precious treasure 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 in earthen vessels , saith the Apostle . As the x x 2 Cor. 3. 8 , 9. y Dan. 2. 37. 38. ministerie of the Gospell is a most glorious Iewell : so is the Magistracie an exceeding rich gemme . But it is no other than an earthen pot , though gilt and garnisht , that both the one and the other is committed vnto . Neither is it the gilt or the garnishing of it that maketh it the lesse brittle , or that hindreth but that soone it may , and once it must be broken as well as others . z z H●…c ●…e consideratio teneat intrate , nec avolare sinat à te . Bern. de consid. l. 2. Erubescant ergò cordis elata supercilia ; & qui se considerat i●…ter ortum & e●…itū communi 〈◊〉 cateris natu●…a lege constringi , desinat de sublimi●…ri gloriae singularit a●…e iactari . Pet●… . Dam●…ā ad Agnetem . So esteeme therefore of your selues in regard of others ; so demeane your selues towards others ; as being of the same mold and making that all other men are .

Otherwise if you swell with pride in regard of your high places , contemne such as be beneath you , and forget your owne frailty ; heare your doome , yee Gods , from a a Psal. 50. 1. the God of Gods , as by the Psalmist here , so by the Prophet els-where . b b Ezech. 28. 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9. Thus saith the God Iehovah : ( he that is God by nature , as well as by name : ) Because thine heart is lift vp , and thou saist , I am a God , and I sit in the seat of God ; and * * 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Ath●…nienses Pompeio . yet art thou but a man still , and not God , though thou takest it vpon thee as if thou wert God : Therfore I will bring terrible ones vpon thee , that shall draw their swords against thee , and shall spoile thy brauerie , and shall cast thee downe to the pit ; and thou shalt dye the death of the slaine , Wilt thou say then before him that slayeth thee , I am a God ? But thou shalt be a man , and no God , in the hand of him that slayeth thee .

Though you may a while with vaine conceits sooth vp your selues , or suffer your selues to be deluded by others ; yet c c Galat. 6. 7. you cannot beguile God , d d - decipe ner vos , st potes . P●…s . sat. ●… . Sic , Decipe mortem , si potes ; decipe D●…um . Dic morti , Mortalis non sum . Imò , Qui cateris Deu●… , sibi certè homo est , velit , nolit : n●…c enim conscientiam decipit suam , si fallit ali●…nam . Min●…t . Octau . you cannot deceiue death . But as Alexanders e e 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Alexander saucius eis qui se Deum indigeta●…erant . Plut ▪ apophth . bloud issuing from his wounded bodie , and the very f f Cum represso sanguine sicci vulneris dolor cresceret , Omnes , inquit , iurant me lovis esse filium , sed vul●… hoc homin●… esse 〈◊〉 clamat . Sen. ep. 59. Se quidem l●…vis filium dici , sed corporis agri 〈◊〉 sentire . Cu●… l. ●… . griefe of the wound , controlled too too plainely the grosse flatteries of his Pagane Priests and base Parasites , that vainely stiled him a God : So death at least shall at last euidently and vnanswerably , proue euen to Princes and enforce them to confesse , that though they be Gods by office and by diuine deputation , yet they remaine mortall men still ; and therefore cannot , nor g g Psal. 49. 19. shall not liue for euer , but shall one day go the same way that all other men go , and that all their forefathers before them haue gone .

Let this Text be vnto you , as h h Fama est fictilib●…●…oenasse Agathoclea Regem , Atque abacum Samio saepe ●…nerasse lut●… . Quaerenti causam , respondit ; Rex ego qui sum Sicaniae , figulo sumgenitore satus . Auson . epigram . 8 Vise Piut. in apophth . Ag●…thocles the Sicilian his earthen plate , to remember you of your beginning and your birth : as i i 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . E pueris regijs quidam Philippo quot matutinis occinebat . Aelian . hist. var. l. 8. c. 15. Et Stob. cap. 19. Triumphantibus à tergo suggeritur , Respice post te , hominem . memento t●… . Tertull. apolog. Philip the Macedonian his euery mornings Monitor , his sonne Alexanderrs 1 1 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Plut. Alexandro . sleepe , or 2 2 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Antigonus in Plut. 〈◊〉 . Antigonus his sicknesse , to minde you of your end , of your mortalitie , of your death : that though you be Sonnes of the immortall God , yet you remaine still but mortall men ; therefore mortall , because men ; Sonnes of Adam , yea and k k 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Geo. 3. 7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Hesych . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Agapet . ad Iustin. n. 3. of Adamah too , as well as others : And as l l 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Quid est Adam ? 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Adam Abelo compar est . Psal. 144. 3 , 4. Adam is like Abel : so Abel is like Adam . m m 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ad●… totus Abel . Psal. 39. 5. 11. All the Sannes of Adam , euen n n 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Psal. 62. 9. the greatest of them and the most glorious in their best estate are not all Abel onely , that is , nothing but vanitie , but euen o o 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ibid. lesse then Abel , that is , lighter then vanitie it selfe .

Let not the eminency , I say , of your high-places so transport you , as to blow your mortalitie out of your mindes : But remember that p p Psal. 9. 20. you are but men ▪ that q q Non 〈◊〉 ho●…ines se esse , quem hominibus praeesse m●…minerint . Plin. Panegyr . as you rule men , so you are men your selues ; and therefore so liue you as those that one day must die , as not exempt from the common condition of all Adams of-spring , from whom you come as well as others , and whom as well as others once you must follow .

For others : Are Kings and Princes but mortall men , subiect to death and dissolution ? Oh r r Es●… religiosus in Deum , qui vis illum propitium Imperatori . dis●…ne aliu●… De●… credere , at q●… it a & hunc De●… dicere , cus Deo op●…s est . tanquam si hab●…s Imperatorem , alteri●… appelles , offensam maxim●… & inex●…rabilē contrahi●… 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , etiam ipsi ti●…endam , q●…em appellafti . Tertull. apolog. then make not Gods of them : put not your trust in them ; depend not vpon them . It is no wise course , it is no safe course , neither for you , nor for them neither . s s Psal. 146. 3. Trust not in Princes , saith the Psalmist , nor in any sonne of Adam : For there is no surety of safetie in or by any of them . t t Esai . 20. 6. Qui alijs dicit dare sa salutem , sibi det . Aug. in Psal. 145. They are not able to saue themselues : and how then can they saue others ? Make not man therefore thy God . He is not able to lengthen thy life , that cannot prolong his owne life , a minute longer then God giueth him leaue .

u u Psal. 46. 1. God is a sure stay , saith the Psalmist , x x Psal. 18. 30. & 33. 22. to all that trust in him , and y y Psal. 9. 10. Pro: 18. 10. that betake themselues to him . But z z Sunt infirma qu●…am refugia , quae cum quisque fugerit , magi●… infirmitur , qua●… confirmatur . Aug. in Psal. 45. Sun●… montes naufr●…gosi , quo navem quisque cu●… impulerit solvitur . Iaē in Ioan. tract. 1. there are , saith Augustine , some infirme and vnsure staies , which when a man hath betaken himselfe vnto , he is neuer a whit the surer , but more vnsure oft then euer he was : they not onely faile a man then , when they should stand him in most steede , but are themselues many times the meanes of his miscarying .

A man thinketh himselfe safe , if he can get into fauour with the Prince ; he shall be sure then to rise : or if he can compasse the countenance of such a Iudge or such a great personage , hee shall be able then to make his part good , and to go through with his suites against any aduersary whatsoeuer . But what faith the Psalmist ? a a Psal. 146. 4. His breath departeth , and he returneth to his dust : and then all his thoughts perish . This great-man that they depend vpon is but a litle b b Gen. 2. 7. aire and dust tempered together . And while they liue in hope of great matters by him , and he , it may be too , is purposing of great mat●…ers for them ▪ cometh God and c c Esai . 40. ●… . bloweth him away so dai●…ely with a blast of his breath ; and d d Na i●…le misirabilis , cuius in homine mertali spe●… omnis innititur . t●…tum enim eius auxilium cum extincto homine finitur . Minut . Octau . then all his princely power perisheth together with him , and his proiects they come all to nought .

Yea oftentimes e e Confugis ad aliquem in seculo magnum , vt facias tibi potentem amicum , refugium videtur . Tam incerta tamen hui●… seculi sunt , ruinae potentum tam crebr●… , vt postquam ad tale refugium confugeris , plus ibi timere incipias . Antea enim caus●… tu●… tantum timebas : cum verò ad talem refugeris , & de illo tibi timebis . Multi enim cadentibus illis ad quos confugerunt , & ipsi quas●…ti sunt , quos nemo qu●…reret , si●…on ad talia confugissent . Aug. in Psal. 45. dependance vpon such great ones , when they fall , proueth the ruine and breake-necke of those that depend vpon them or belong to them ; who might haue beene safe enough otherwise , had they not sought to such succours : as the fall of a tall Cedar bruiseth the vnder-wood about it , that might haue done well enough , had it stood further of it .

It is with many an one in this case , * * In Pelago periclitantim●…ns apparet : sed latent saxa sub monte . dum ad montem conatur , in saxa incidit , & invenit ibi non portum , sed planctu●… Idem in Ioan. 1. as with the Sea-man at sea , that surprised with a tempest , casteth about for some harbour , and espying a bay with high hills on either side , putteth in there hoping to finde succour and reliefe , but striketh vnawares on some rocke or shelfe that lay out of sight , and so is cast away irrecouerably in the harbour , whereas in the tempest it may be he might haue done well enough ; or as with a Passenger in a storme , that for shelter against the weather steppeth out of the way , betaketh him to a faire oke , standeth vnder the boughes of it with his backe close to the body of it , and findeth good reliefe by it for some space of time , till at length commeth a sodaine gust of wind that driueth downe some maine arme of it , which falling vpon the poore Passenger , either maimeth or mischeifeth him that resorted to it for succour . So falleth it out with not a few : meeting in the world with many troubles and with manifold vexations , th●…y step aside out of their owne way , yea and sometime too out of Gods way , to get vnder the wing of some great one , and gaine it may be , some aide and shelter thereby for a season : but after a while , that great one himselfe comming downe head-long and falling from his former height of fauour or honour , they are also called in question , and so fall by that meanes together with him , that might otherwise haue stood long enough for their maine estate vntouched , if they had not betaken themselues to him .

Let no man therefore trust to such vnsure staies : let no man make any man his principall stay . f f Psal. 1●…6 . 5. Ier. 17. 7. Blessed is he that hath the true God for his stay : whose hope and happinesse is fixed and founded wholy on him . But g g Iorem. 17. 6. accursed is he that trusteth in man , and maketh flesh his arme ; and withdraweth his heart from God , by placing of man in the roome of God . Let vs take heed h h Esai : 2. 22. how we set by man more then is meete . Let vs i i Prou: 24. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 17. reverence them in God , and God in them ; but * * Non tam propter Dominum , qu●… pro Domino venerari . Greg. mor. l. 24 c. 29. not equalize them with God , nor preferre them before him . Let vs beware how we offend God for the pleasing of them , or forbeare our duty to him for feare of displeasing them . k k Ierem. 1. 18. God is able to sheild vs against man : l l Deut. 32. 39. Man is not able to shelter vs against God .

For both the one and the other . Seeing that all this glory , all these honors and things of this life must once haue an end , m m Finem aut tuum sunt habitura 〈◊〉 su●…m . Sen. quaest. nat. l. 3. Aut enim possidentēd serunt , aut à possidente deseruntur . Albin . in Eccles. either we an end of them , or they an end of vs ; they can last no longer then this present life , which it selfe cannot last long : that therefore we n n 1 Tim. 6. 19. lay all of vs a good foundation here that we may lay hold of life eternall hereafter .

How may that be done ? The Apostles Peter and Iames tell vs . By o o 1 Pet. 1. 23 , 24 , 25. being bred againe not of corruptible , but of incorruptible seede , by the word of God that liueth and abideth for euer . For p p Esai . 40. 6. all flesh is grasse ; and all the glory of it but as the flower of the field : q q Iam 1. 10 , 11. The s 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . 2 Pet. 1. 4. 1 Ioh. 8. 51. & 11. 25 , 26. Moriuntur viuentes , & vivunt mori●…ntes . I C ● : Mali dum vivunt mortui sunt , iusti , 〈◊〉 moriuntur , etiam cum m●…rtui sunt , vivunt . Chrys st. ad pop. Ant. hom. 69. grasse withereth , and the flower fadeth away : But the word of God endureth for euer . By r r Iam. 1. 21. receiuing with meekenesse the word ingraffed into you , which is able to saue your soules , and to make you partakers of the diuine nature indeed .

This if you doe , then ● though you die , yet you shall not die , but you shall liue euen in death , and suruiue after death for euer : and as you rule by God in this world , so shall you reigne with Christ eternally in the next world .

AN APPEALE TO THE PRINCE OF PRINCES . Vers. 8. Arise , o'God , iudge thou the earth : for thou inheritest all Nations .

WE haue heard God hitherto parlying by the Psalmist with Princes , and partly a a Vers. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. controlling them for their corrupt cariage ; partly b b Vers. 6 , 7. admonishing them of their mortall condition , by meanes whereof they must one day die as well as other men , and with other men then come to an account ; that which might alone serue to make them more wary , if nothing else would or could .

Let vs now heare the Psalmist c c Vers. ●… . appealing from them vnto God , and commending vnto him the causes of such , as were either oppressed and wronged , or not righted by them .

The whole verse being the conclusion of the Psalme consisteth of two parts :

There is first an Appeale commenced by way of suite vnto God ; and that expressed in two Branches :

1. Surge Deus ; arise , ô God : a metaphore taken from the common gesture of Iudges , whose vsuall manner is to d d Exod. 1●… 13 , 14. sit while they are hearing of causes , e e Esai . 2. 19. & 3. 13 , 14. Si●… sta●…tem videt Stephanus Act. 7. 55. quem sedentem Marcus 16. 19. Greg. hom 29. non quasi causam dicentem , vt Aug. quaest. mixt . 88. sed quasi pro Stephano statim sententiam laturum , vt Psal. 76. 9. to arise and stand vp when they come to giue sentence . 2. Iudica terram ; Iudge thou the earth , or the Land : f f Psal. 9. 16. doe thou make thy selfe knowne and seene by executing iustice thy selfe : doe thou that that they will not doe .

There is secondly a reason , why this is required at his hands ; because g g Psal. 2. 8. all Nations , these poore oppressed ones among the rest , are part of his portion , which it behooueth him therefore to take notice of , and to right them in their wrongs .

Now in this practise of the Psalmist the first point that we obserue is , that the highest Appeale is to God himselfe : As h h Ad Dei verbum fit vl●…ima resolutio fidei . Camerac . ad 1. Sent. q. 1. a. 3. corol . 1. lit . H. the vtmost resolution of faith is into the word of God ; so i i Ad Dei tribunal sit vltima reuolutio iustitiae . the vtmost revolution of iustice is to Gods Tribunall .

Hence those formes of Appeale so frequent in Scripture . k k Psal. 7. 8. & 26. 1. & 43. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Easil . 〈◊〉 . Sept. Iudic●…m meum age . Iun. Iudica me , Domine : Iudge me , or , l l Vindica me ▪ vt Psal. 10. 18. & 35. 24. Drus. miscel. l. 1. c. 59. right me , O Lord . And , m m Psal. 74. 22. Surge Deus , Arise O God , and iudge thine owne cause : and , n n Psal. 35. 23. Arise vnto my iudgement : and o o Psal. 10. 12 , 14. Surge Domine ; Arise , ô Lord , and lift vp thine hand , the poore committeth his cause to thee . And p p 1 Sam. 24. 13 , 16. The Lord be iudge betweene thee and me , and right mee on thee . Yea of our Sauiour himselfe , when he was here vpon earth , it is said , that q q ●… Pet. ●… . 23. ●…ee committed his cause to him that iudgeth iustly . And the Apostle Paul that r r Act. ●…5 . 10. appealed from F●…lix and Festus , to C●…sar Augustus ; yet from them and him too , and all men he maketh his appeale vnto God : s s 1 Cor. 4. 3 , 4. I passe not , saith he , t t 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . ex Cilicum idiotis●… . Hieron . ad Algas . q. 10. Diem tamen dicere ali●…ni , pro , in indici●… v●…care L●…tinis tri●… satis . for mans day , that is , mans doome ; Qui me iudicat Dominus est ; It is the Lord alone that must be my iudge .

The truth and equity hereof may more fully appeare , if we shall consider ; that

First , u u Appellati●… fit semper à minore ad maiorem . Gloss ad Gra●… . c. 2. q. 1. Appeale is euer made from the Inferiour to the Superiour : not x x A maiore ad minor ●… appellare ●…ō licet . Digest . l. ●…9 . t. 1. l. 1. & Gloss. ad Grat. c. 2. q. 6. from the Superiour to the Inferiour : y y Inferior patiorē non ligat Nicol pp. dist. 21. c. 5. Et , Lex 〈◊〉 per inferi●…rem 〈◊〉 non p●…st . Clement . l. ●… . tit. 3. c. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Luci●… T●… . & Apolog ▪ 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 that were preposterous ; the Inferiour being subordinate to the Superiour : z z Ad 〈◊〉〈◊〉 appellat●…r 〈◊〉〈◊〉 apud Grat. 〈◊〉 6. c. 27. not from the equall to his equall ; that were vaine and frivolous ; since a a Par i●… 〈◊〉 hab●…t 〈◊〉 ▪ Dig●… . l. 4. 〈◊〉 ●… . 3. 4. & Inn●…t . 3 decretal . 〈◊〉 . tit. 6. c. 20. one equall hath no power ouer an other his equall : but from the Inferiour to the Superiour , as b b 〈◊〉 2●… . 10. from Faelix to C●…sar , from Festus to Augustus . But c c God is higher then the highest , and there is none higher then he . d d Psal. ●…3 . 18. That they may know that thou , whose name is Ieh●…vah , art , 〈◊〉 e e No●…en soli●… veri Dei . ●…ellarm . d●… Chri●… ▪ 〈◊〉 . ●… . cap. 7. altissimu●… , the only most high in the whole world . All Appeales end at him : they may be made to him , bu●… none can bee made from him ; they cannot go further or higher then him .

Secondly , the party that Appeale is made vnto , must haue , that it may be effectuall and to good purpose , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , & potestatem & potentiam , both right and might , both place and power , both power of authority , and power of ability .

Now in man these are oft seuered . Princes oft want power : they haue Potestatem sine potentia right oft without might , f f C●…actus Princeps quos nolebat occidere : ereptumque Principi illud in principa●…●…mum , quod nihil cogitur . Plin. Panegyr . they dare not doe oft what they know they should doe , and what they would if they could . g g ●… Sim. 3. 39. Ye are too hard for me , saith Dauid , ye sonnes of Zerviah . And , h h Ier. 38. 5. Minime is est Rex qui possi●… contra v●…s quicquam . Iun. The King , saith Zedekias to his Nobles , can deny you nothing : They had such an hand of him , that he durst not displease them .

And i i 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ( ita ●…mendo 〈◊〉 Stob. tom . 2 ▪ ●… ▪ 44. quod v●…lgò , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ) 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Plut. ad praef. indoct . tyrannous Vsurpers haue power more then is meete : they haue potentiam sine potestate , might without right : as had Nimrod , k k Gen. 10. 9. Arripuit insuetam pri●… in populum tyrannidem . Hieron . qu●…st . in Gen. Non tamen primus , credo , primarius potius . that mightie Hunter , not of Deere , but of men . And where they haue right , they doe not vse it aright oft-times , but abuse it . And therefore to appeale vnto such , from Herode to Caesar , were but as for the lambe to appeale from the Fox to the Wolfe , as l l Luk. ●…3 . 〈◊〉 . Christ tearmeth the one , or from the Wolfe to the Lyon , as m m . the Apostle stileth the other : or for the silly Hare to appeale from the Hound to n n 〈◊〉 . 10. 9. the Hunter .

But with God these are not seuered . He hath & 〈◊〉 & potestatem , both might and right , both 〈◊〉 and abilitie . For o o Esai . 33. 22. Iehovah Iudex noster , 〈◊〉 legislator noster , Iehovah Rex noster : Iehovah is our ●…dge ; Iehovah is our Lawgiuer , Iehovah is our King . Yea God is all these 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , in a kind of principality a soveraignty , a singularity ; so as none are but he al●…e . He is not only Iudex , legislator and Rex , Iudge , Lawgiuer , and King : but as he is said to be p p Soli sapienti Deo . 1 Tim. 1. 〈◊〉 ▪ 25. solus sapiens , only wise ; so wise , that in comparison there is none wise but he ; so q q 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . 1 Tim. 6. 15. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . I●…d . 4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ▪ 〈◊〉 Desp●… . solus Iudex , Legislator , & Rex , The onely Iudge ▪ the only Lawgiuer , the only King ; so Iudge , Lawgiuer , and King r r Praet●…r m●… null●… est . Esai . 45. 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 as none are but he onely .

First he is Iudge . s s 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Psal. 75. 8. For God is iudge . And , t t 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Psal. 50. 6. God himselfe is Iudge : And so Iudge , as there is none but he . For

1. He is Iudex generalis : The generall , the vniuersall Iudge : not Iudex totius Angliae , but Iudex totius orbis : The Iudge of all the world . Other Iudges haue their particular and seuerall Circuits , and hee that is Iudge in one is not in another : It is not so with him , he is Iudge euery where ; the whole world is his circuit . u u Psal. 94. 2. Arise , thou Iudge of the whole world , saith the Psalmist . And , x x Gen. 18. 25. Should not the Iudge of the whole world doe Iustice ? saith Abraham speaking both vnto him and of him .

2. He is Iudex caelestis ▪ He is as y y Dan. 2. 44. I●…de 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 i 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 i●… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Theologia ap●…d E●…scb pr●…par . euang. l. 1. the God of heauen , so the Iudge of heauen : an heauenly , a celestiall Iudge . For , z z Psal. 1●…5 . ●… . Our God is in heauen . And , a a 〈◊〉 ▪ ●… . 18. The wrath of God is reuealed from heauen . And , b b Psal. 76. 8. Th●…u causedst thy iudgement to ●…e heard from heau●… . They are but c c Iudica●…t ▪ terram Iudices terr●… . Aug. de t●…mp . 94. Iudges of earth that iudge the earth . Earth they iudge , and earth they are . d d Aug. Ibid. Ho●…o iudicans hominem , terra iudicans terram : saith Augustine . When Man iudgeth Man , Earth iudgeth Earth . But , Deus iudicans hominem , C●…lum iudicans coenum : When God iudgeth man , Heauen iudgeth earth . e e Luk. 15. 18. I haue sinned against heauen , saith the Prodigall sonne ; that is , against f f C●…lum pro D●… . Vise Dr●…s . qu●…st . l. 2. c. 61. & obser●… . l. 9. c. 2. & Pro●… . l. 1. cent . 5. Pro●… . 46. God in heauen . And , g g Math. 21. 25. Iohns Baptisme , saith our Sauiour , was it from heauen or of Men ? that is , of God or of man . And , h h Esai . 64. 8. Ier. 18. 6. Homo Deo , lutum sigulo ; Man in Gods hand is but as clay in the Potters hand : Euen Princes and Iudges as well as others , i i Psal. 2 9 , 10 , 12. whom therefore if they be 〈◊〉 the wiser , he wil bruise with his iron mace , and breake them to shivers like an earthen vessell .

3. He is Iudex supremus : The supreame Iudge . Other Iudges iudicant , iudicantur ; They iudge , and they are iudged , at l●…t iudicabuntur , they shall bee iudged . But it is true of * * Omnes iudicat , à nullo iudicatur ▪ Cyrill thesaur . l. 9. c. 1 God , that is vntruely and bl●…sphemously ascribed k k Vise Grat. dist. 40. Et caus. 9. quaest. 3. to the Pope , Omnes iudicat , a nemine iudicatur : He iudgeth all , but is iudged of none . Iudicat iudicantes : Hee iudgeth those that iudge others . As l l Prov. 8. 15 , 16. they iudge now by him ; so m m Esai . 3. 14. they shall once be iudged of him . They are liable to his iudgement : but he is liable to no iudgement . For n n Rom. 9. 20 , 21. Esai . 45. 9. none may call him to account ; or o o Dan. 4. 32. Iob. 34. 17 , 1●… , 19. say to him , Why doest thou so ?

Secondly , he is Legislator , the Lawgiuer : yea hee is vnicas Legislator , the onely Lawgiuer : so Lawgiuer as none other is but he . p p Iam. 4. 1●… ▪ There is one Law-giuer , saith Iames , able to saue and to destroy . But Iudges ordinarily , they are not Lawmakers , or Lawmasters . They are but servientes ad legem , or iudicantes secundum legem : They are but Sergeants at Law ; at the most , but Expounders of the Law , q q Sedes secundum legem iudicaturu●… . Act. 23. 3. Hinc Diotogen . de regno . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . apud Stob. cap. ●…6 . sitting to iudge according to the Law . They doe not make Law , but r r Expon●…t ●…ibi legem , & faci●… iuxta legem . Deut. 17. 9 , 11. Interpret the Law , and iudge according to it .

Or though they haue ius condendarum legum , Power of enacting and making Lawes , as s s D●…n. 3. 29. & 6. 26. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Plut. ad praef. indoct . Quod principi placuit , legis habet vigorem . Vlpia●… . Digest . lib. 1. ●… . 4. l. 1. in free Monarchies and absolute Estates Princes haue : t t In lege temporali nihil es●… iustum & legitimum , quod ●…ō ex hac aterna sibi homi●… 〈◊〉 . Aug. de lib. 〈◊〉 b. l. 1. c. 6. Ci●…ro ips●… 〈◊〉 . l. 〈◊〉 & legem non populorum iussi●… , nec princ●…pū decretis ▪ nec sentent●…s i●…dicum , sed natura n●…ma 〈◊〉 . Et l. 2. Ex sapientissimorum 〈◊〉 , Princ●… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ●…tis 〈◊〉 vetantis Dei : 〈◊〉 q●… loge●…illa 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dan●… h●…ano . yet must all their Lawes be grounded vpon and agreeable to Gods Law , or u u Non videtur ess●… le●… , iniusta si su●…rit . Aug. de lib. arb. l. 1. c. 5. N●…c ●…ura dicenda sunt vel putanda i●…qua hominum constituta . Idem de ciuit . l. 19. c. 21. Vbi de●…st ratio , quae legis est anima . Idem de lib. arb. l. 1. c. 6. else they are no Lawes , or as good as none .

And those when they are so made , x x See D. Field of the Church . l. 4. c. 32 , 33 , 34. they binde and restraine the outward man onely . As y y Vsque ad car●…ē saeuis ; animam no●… attingis ▪ terra terram per●…utis ▪ p●…res f●…rire habitaculum ; 〈◊〉 quid & habitatorem ? terres visibilis visibilem ●… 〈◊〉 occides , quem non vides . Aug. de sanct. 13. Luk. 12. 4. they can meddle onely with the outward man , they haue no power ouer the minde ; Non occides quem non vides ; What they cannot see , they cannot slay : So their Lawes of themselues , as they are but positiue Lawes and subiect to repeale , can take no hold of the inward man , though a man may by the breach of them make himselfe to stand inwardly guilty of sinne ; as z z Gerson . d●… vi●… spirit . lect. 4. ●…rol . 5. by not following the advice giuen him by the Physitian he may incurre the guilt both of sinne and selfe-murther .

But a a Psal. 19. 7 , 8. Roman. 7. 7 , 12. Gods Law reacheth directly eu●…n to the inward man also . For he is b b Iam. 4. 12. The onely Law-giuer , that hath power by Law to binde the soule as well as the body ; as c c Gen. 2. 7. Qui vtrunque cre●…it , vtrunque 〈◊〉 : qui homi●… 〈◊〉 . vtroque constru●…it , vtrumq●…e vbi voluerit , destr●…ere poterit . Aug. desanct . 13. he made both : and for the breach of it to inflict penalties as well on the soule as on the body ; d d Math. 10. 28. Luk. 12. 5 to destroy both soule and body together for euer in hell-fire .

Againe they , euen the highest and the absolutest of them , Leges dant , & accipiunt , both giue Lawes and take Lawes . For , to omit , that e e Paret●… legi quisquis legem sanxoris . Pittac . Auson . Sapient . Iustum est enim Princip●… legibus obtemperare suis. Tunc enim iura sua ab omnibus 〈◊〉 ●…xistimet ▪ 〈◊〉 & ipse ill●… reverentia●… praeb●…t . Principes legi●… teneri 〈◊〉 , nec in se 〈◊〉 frustrare i●…a , qua in subiect●… constit●…nt . Iusta est enim vocis ●…orum autori●… , si quod pop●…lis prohib●…nt , sibi 〈◊〉 non patia●… ▪ tur . Isidor . de sum . bo●… . l. 3. c. 52. by their owne Lawes , while they are in force , and afoote , f f Digna vou est maiestate regnantis legibus alligatum se principem profiteri . Ade●… de antoritate iuris nostra pendet autoritas : & reverâ mai●… imperio est submittere legibus principatum . Theod. & Valent. Cod. l. 1. t. 17. l. 4. Idem es qui ante fuisti . & tantum tibi per te licet , quantum per leges anteà licebat . De Theodos. P●…catus panegyr . they ti●… themselues g g Princeps enim legibus solutus est . Vlpia●… . Dig. l. 1. ●… . 3. l. 30. Voluntate tamen sua seipsum sub●…jcit . v●… Gloss. ad Dig. melius quam Gloss. altera ad Cod. Alij 〈◊〉 , quod hîc permitt●…tur mentiri . in some sort : Though h h Plin. panegyr . Ipse t●… legibus sub●…ecisti . legibus Caesar , quas 〈◊〉 Principi scripsit . Sed t●… amplius nihil tibi vis licere quam nobis . Sic fit , vt ●…os tibi plus velimus . Quod ego ●…unc primum audi●… , nun●… primū●…isco , Non est princeps supra leges , sed leges supra principe●… . Idem Caesari Coss quod cateris non licet . Iurat in legem , non ignarus nominireligiosius quod iur●…verit custodiendum , quam cuius maximè interest , non peierari . Principi nemo leges scripsit , yet Deus praescripsit ; though no man may praescribe Lawes to such Princes , yet i i Vers. 3 , 4. God hath prescribed Lawes as well to them as to others . They giue them to others , they receiue them from him .

Whereas he Leges dat , non accipit , He giueth lawes , but taketh none . Dat leges leges dantibus , Legislatoribus ipsis : He giueth lawes to all , euen to those that giue lawes to others , to the Law-makers themselues : But he receiueth none from any : for k k Iob. 36. 23. no Creature may prescribe Lawes or Rules to his Creator .

Thirdly , he is l l Psal. 93. 1. & 97. 1. Rex , a King : and m m Psal. 47. 2. Mala. 1. 14. Math. 5. 35. qui titulus olim Assyri●… datus Esai . 36. 4. sed & Persa . Di●… Chrysost. ●…rat . 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Et ibid. 4. Alexander Diogeni , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Visatur Drus. obser●… . l. 12. c. 4. Rex magnus , A great King .

He is Rex , not Tyrannus . A King not a Tyrant : A rightfull and lawfull King , a King n n Regnum enim Domini est . Psal. 22. 28. 1. Chron. 29 11. of his owne , not an Vsurper : there is his right .

And againe Rex magnus , not Regulus : not a petie Prince , but a great King : a mighty , puissant , o o 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Apoc. 4. 8. omnipotent Monarke : there is his might .

Yea he is not onely Rex magnus , a great King ; but Rex solus , the onely King : a King so as there is none but he .

For 1. hee is absolute and independent . p p Omne sub regno grauiore regnum est . Sen. Thyest. 3. 3. Other Kings and Princes are not absolute . q q Prou. 8. 15 , 16. They hold all from him ; r r Psal. 75. 8. they depend all vpon him ; s s Psal. 22. 27 , 2●… . 29. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Agapet . Magnus qui tantum pr●…mium cepit ; sed maior , qui capienti dedit . Plin. Panegyr . they doe service all to him . As t t Psal. 47. 9. the sheilds of the world ; so u u Apoc. 19. 12. the Crownes , and x x Apoc. 1●… . 15. the kingdomes of the world are all his : and y y Dan. 4. 22. he disposeth them at his pleasure . For z z Ille regna dispensat , cui●… est & orbis qui regnatur , & hom●… ipse qui regnat . Tertull. apolog. he dispenseth the kingdomes of the world , whose both the world is that is gouerned , and man that doth gouerne .

But God is absolute and independent . Hee is a a 1 Tim. 6. 15. Apoc. 19. 15. Rex regum , & Dominus dominantium , King of kings , and Lord of lords ; and b b Psal. 50. 1. & 96. 4. Deus Deorum , God of Gods too : c c Rom. 9. 5. 1 Chron. 29. 11. Qui nuncupativ●… dicitur , inter omnia Deui , qui verè & essentialiter , super omnia Deus est . Greg. in Ezech. l. 1. ●…m 3. God aboue all ; and none aboue him ; d d 2 Cron. 20. 6. regnans super omnia regna terrae , reigning ouer all the Kingdomes in the world , as he doth ouer all the kings of the earth .

Domini sunt , & Dominum habent ; Lords they are , and a Lord they haue : to wit , him that is called f f Apoc. 1. 5. Princeps regum terrae , The Prince of the Kings of the earth . g g Dij dicti , quosi à Dee dati ; Domini quia à Domin●… potesta●… fortiti . Origen . in Exod. him . 8. Gods they are called , because giuen by this God ; Lords because they haue receiued power and place from this Lord .

But , as the Heathen man sometime said , h h Qui Rex est , regem , Maxime , non habeat . Martial . epigram . 18. l. 2. Sit liber , Dominus qui volet esse meus . Ibid. ep. 32. Let him be my King , who himselfe hath no King : So , let him be my God , who himselfe hath no God . i i Solus verus Dominus es , qui Dominum non babes . Aug. confess . lib. 10. c. 36. He is the onely true Lord , that hath no Lord : he is the only true Prince , that hath no Prince aboue him : And therefore k k 1 Cor. ●… . 5 , 6. though there be many that are called Gods and Princes and Lords : yet vnto ▪ vs there is but 〈◊〉 e Idem h●…bent iuris adversus imperia , quam adversus imperantes habet ▪ Sen. epist. 91. God , and one Prince and one Lord ; because one 〈◊〉 absolute and independent .

2. He is great in and of himselfe . Other Princes and great personages are not great of themselues . They are not to other men , as a Giant to a Dwarfe , or as Cedars to shrubs . A Cedar is a tall tree , though there stand ne're a shrub neere it , and though it grow below in a botome : and the shrub is but a shrub , though it stand aloaft by it selfe on an high hill , or on the top of a stone wall . l l Non est magnus pumili●… , licet in monte constiterit . Coloss●… magnitudinem suam servabit , etiam si st●…terit in put●… . Sen. epist. 76. A Giant is a Giant , though he lye along on the ground : and a Dwarfe is but a Dwarfe still , though m m Pygmaei in turribus . Diverbium e●… Vulg. versione tractum Ezech. 27. 11. Vise Iun. not . he get him vp to the top of a turret .

But it is with Princes , as with stones in a building , in a stone-wall : where some stand higher , some lye lower , of equall size otherwise the one with the other ; and the lower support and beare vp the higher . They are but men still in nature and stature , though n n Gratia , non natura Dij dicti . Origen . in Exod. 8. Gods by name and in state , rather higher in place , then greater in person then others are .

Whereas God is great of himselfe and in himselfe ; he is not o o 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Aristot. c●…teg . in quant . relatiuely , or comparatiuely , but he is simply and absolutely and infinitely great . So great , that p p 1 King . ●… . 27. The heauens , and the heauens of heauens are not able to h●…ld him : but q q Ierem. 23. 25. He filleth both heauen and earth . So great , that r r Esai . 40. 12. He meateth the heauen with his span ; and taketh the whole sea vp in the palme of his hand : that s s Esai . 40. 15. all the world is with him but as a litle dust that hangeth o●… the ballance and yet altreth not the weight , as a drop of water that falleth from the bucket , and yet minisheth not the measure : that t t Esai . 40. 17. all the people in the world compared with him , are but as vanitie and a thing of nothing ; yea that u u Psal. 62. 9. all the nations of the earth , if they be weighed against him , they are lighter then vanitie and * * Esai . 4●… . 1●… . lesse then nothing . So great that there is no end of his greatnesse : x x Infinit●… longit●… di●…is linea recta ▪ circulum faciens , & in se rediens . Cusan●… presb . apud Trithem . ad C●…sar . quaest. 1. a streight line , saith one , of infinite length , returning into it selfe , and so making a circle : y y Sphara , cui●… centrum vbique , circumferentia nusquam . Empedocle●… ibid. a sphere , whose center is euery where , and the circumference of it no where , not to be found . So great , that his greatnes cannot be comprehended : z z 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Ioan. Dam●…se . de ●…ide lib. ●… . cap. 13. he were not God , if it could .

a a Psal. 14●… . 3. Great is the Lord , saith the Psalmist , and greatly to be extolled , and his greatnesse is incomprehensible . b b Magnus , magnus , magnus nimis . Volebat dicere quantum magnus . Et si t●…ta die , Magnus , magnus , diceret , quid magnum diceret ? tota di●… dicens , Mag●… , finiret aliquando , quia fi●…iretur di●…. magnitud●… illi●… ante dies , vltra dies ▪ si●…e die . dicendo , Magnus nimis , ●…misit ( malè vulg●… , emisit ) vocem , & reliquit cogitationi quod sapiat . q. d. Qu●…d 〈◊〉 nequ●… , tu cogita : & cum cogitaveris , parum erit . quod cogitatio nullius explicat , lingua alicui●… qu●… exprimat . Aug. in Psal. 144. There is great , and great , and great : saith Augustine : He would faine , if he could , haue told vs how great . But had he said , Great , and great , all day long , what great matter had he said ? He that saith , Great , all day long , must needes once make an end , because the day it selfe hath an end : where as Gods greatnesse is infinite , without either beginning or end . But saying , His greatnesse is incomprehensible , ●…e gaue over speaking , and left it to vs to conceiue what he could not vtter . As if he had said ; What I cannot vtter , doe thou imagine : and when thou hast imagined the greatest greatnesse that mans minde is able to reach vnto , then kn●…w that thou commest yet infinitely short of Gods greatnes , Which since no mans minde is able to comprehend , no maruell if no tongue of man be able to vtter .

Againe Princes receiue power from their people . c c Prou ▪ 14. 28. The might of a Prince consisteth in the multitude of his people . And d d Eccles. 5. 8. the throne is supported by the Ploughmans paines . It is their subiects shoulders that beare them vp ; as the lower stones in the wall doe those that lye aloaft ouer them : take these supporters away , and they will lie as low as the lowest .

Non est min●… ne●…essarius domino famulus , q●…m famulo dominu●… . Servus dat Domin●… . Sen. de be●…●… lib. 7. cap. 4. The master hath as much neede of his seruant , as the seruant hath of his Master : and 1 1 Quanquam Diogenes apud Sen. de tranquil . c. 8. Turpe est Manem sine Diogene p●…sse vi●…ere , Diogenem sine Mane non p●…sse . Atqui rectè Chrys●…st . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . tom 7. eclog . 30. ex ●… Cor. homil. 34. the Master can no more be without his Seruant , then the Seruant can be without his Master : In like manner it is here : 2 2 Nec magis s●…ne to nos esse selices , quam tu sine nob●…s esse potes P in ▪ panegyr . The Prince hath as much neede of his people , as the people haue neede of their Prince : and the Prince can no more be without his people , then the people can be without their Prince .

But God , he giueth to all , hee receiueth from none . f f Act. 17 25. Dat omnia omnibus : He giueth all things to all : For g g Rom. 11. 36. 1 Chron. 29. 14. all things are of him : and h h Iam 1. 17. Omne enim bonum nostrum vel ipse , vel ab ipso est ▪ Aug ▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . ●… . 1. 6. 32. they cannot possibly haue any thing but what they haue from him .

i i N●… ill●… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 , n●…●…i q●…iquam conferre possumus . S●… . d●…●…nef . l. 4. ●… . 9. Deo banaficium p●…stare 〈◊〉 pass m●… . Aug. de 〈◊〉 . Dom. 38. He receiueth nothing from any . For k k Rom. 11. 35. who hath giuen , or who can giue ought vnto him ? when l l Psal. 16. 2. all the good , that we can doe , reacheth nothing neere him .

We may haue neede of him , yea daily and hourely we stand in neede of him . It is he m m Psal. 100. 3. that at first created vs , and n n Psal. 66. 9. C ▪ 〈◊〉 ▪ 1. ●…6 , 17. Heb. 1. 2 , 3. that continually supporteth vs . But o o Act: 17. ●…5 . Ipsa 〈◊〉〈◊〉 , nihil 〈◊〉 nostri ▪ L●…cret . l. ●… . B●…orum meorum non eg●…s . quid est enim , bo●… , à quo om●…e bonum datu●… ? Aug. in n●…l ▪ 〈◊〉 . he hath no need of vs , nor of ought of ours . p p Psal ▪ 90. 2. Sur●… 〈◊〉 illud ▪ 〈◊〉 in●… b●…num , nec profic●…t , quia perfectum est , nec d●…ficit , quia ●…ternum est . Aug in 1. Ican . 4. He was as well and as happy , before the world was , as now he is or can be .

q q Ipse Ipse Deu●… est tuus , qui tuis non eget bonis , non timet à malis . Idem in Psal 80. He is the onely true Lord , that hath no neede of seruants , and whose seruants haue need of him : r r Ipse 〈◊〉 est Dominus , qui à servis nihil sumit ; & à quo servu●… ▪ hab●…t quicqui●… habet . Hee is the onely true Lord , that receiueth nothing from his seruants , but from whom the seruants haue whatsoeuer they enioy . And so is he the onely true Soueraigne that hath no neede of his subiects , but they all need of him : s s Quomod ò beneficu●… diceris , si non tam benefi●…us esse , quam beneficis praeesse desidera●… ? Ber●… . de 〈◊〉 . l. 3. that receiueth nothing from them , and from whom they receiue whatsoeuer they haue .

3. His dominion it is infinite . Other Princes haue their dominions listed and limited ; yea listed and limited by him . For t t Act: 17 27. he hath set them their bounds , as u u Psal: 104. 9. he hath fet the sea hers , which they cannot passe . It seemed a great matter , when it was said ; x x Virgil●… Aen. l. 1. Sic Dan. 4. 19. Imperium Oce●…no , fama●… qui terminet astris : y y Psal: 72. 8. His dominion shall reach from Sea to Sea , and from the riuer to the lands end .

But here is z z Virgil : ibid. Imperium sine fine ; sine limite ; a dominion without list or limit , other then the bounds of the vast vniverse . a a Psal: 47. 2. For Ieh●…va is high and dreadfull : he is a great King ouer all the earth . And , b b Psal: 103. 19. The Lord hath prepared his Throne in heauen , and his kingdome ruleth ouer all . And , c c 1 Chron: ●…9 . 12. Riches and honour are of thee ; and thou reignest ouer all .

He hath prepared his throne in heauen : there is his chaire of estate : But where is his foot-stoole , or his foote-pace then ? Himselfe telleth vs by the Prophet : d d Esai : 66. 1. Heauen is my throne ; and the earth is my foote-stoole . The Kings of this world sit all at his feete : it is but his foot-stoole , that they share all among them ; the mightiest Monarkes Territories are but a small patch of Gods foot-pace .

e e Solus verus Rex est , qui regnat vbique . He is the onely true King then , that reigneth euery where ; which because f f Dei solius est esse super 〈◊〉 . Novatian . de Tri●…it . Vnus est regnatur omnium Deus . Tacit : histor. l. 5. Dan: 4. 32. God onely doth , and none but he , to him may appeales be made by men out of all places , because g g Psal. Psal. 139. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. euery where they are within and vnder his iurisdiction , and out of his gouernment they cannot go .

4. His dominion as it is boundlesse , so it is endlesse . Other dominions can haue h h 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Easil . Sel. in Dauid orat . 1. no further or longer extent ▪ then the lists of this present life . They are regna huius mundi , The kingdomes of this world : And as i i 1 Cor: 7. 31. 1 Ioh: 2. 17. Mundus transit , so gloria mundi : As the world passeth away ; so must they needes passe with it . As it hath an end ; so k k Dan: 2. 4●… , 45. must they needes end with it , if they end not before it , as oft they do . l l Dan: 2. & 7. Those foure mighty Monarchies had their times and their turnes ; and m m O●…ta omnia intereunt . Salust . ad Caesar. Certis eunt ●…uncta temporibus . ●…sci debent , crescere , extingui . Sen. ●…pist . Regna e●… in●…mo coorta supra imperantes iacuerunt , veter●… imperia in ipso flore ce●…idere . inir●…●…ō potest numerus , quam mult●… ab alijs fracta sunt . Idem nat . quaest. l. 3. praefat. Quod regnum est , cui non par●…ta ●…it ruina ? Idem de trāq. ●… . 11. Legantur quae V●…piscus praefatur in Caro. their ruine and fall as well as their rise . And you know that as the wheele turneth , ( and it is n n Psal: 75. 7. God onely that turneth it ) o o Regnabo ; regn●… ; regn●…ui ; Rex fine regno . some get vp and some go downe ; some stand aloaft that lay below before , and some lye along that stood aloaft before .

But Gods gouernment is for euer . For , p p Dan: 3. 33. & 4. 31. Psal: 145. 13. His kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome : and his dominion endureth throughout all generations . And , q q Dan: 2. 44. His kingdome shall breake and destroy all other kingdomes : but shall stand firme it selfe for euer . r r Psal: 9. 7. The Lord shall sit ( as Iudge ) for euer on his throne , which he hath prepared for iudgement , And , s s Psal: 10. 16. he will be king for euer and euer , euen when all Heathen Kings are perished from of the earth .

t t Sol●… ver●… Rex est , qui semper reg●… est . He is the onely true King that reigneth for euer . But u u Psal: 146. 10. Iehovah onely reigneth for euer , and Sions God onely throughout all ages . He is therefore the onely true King .

To conclude then : The highest Appeale is therefore to God , because he is the supreame Iudge , the supreame Law-giuer , the supreame King : yea the onely absolute Iudge , the onely absolute Law-giuer , the onely absolute King : therefore the supreame and onely absolute Iudge , because the supreame and onely absolute Lawgiuer ; and therefore the supreame and onely absolute Lawgiuer because the supreame & onely absolute King , the onely insinite , vniuersall , eternall King .

Now thevse of this point doth partly concerne priuate persons , & partly such as be in place of autority .

For the former : Priuate men must be admonished , what their course must be , when courses of iustice faile , and they cannot haue it at mans hand , at the hand of the Magistrate : To rise instantly in armes , and seeke to right themselues either by publike rebellion , or by priuate reuenge ? No : x x Psal. 9. 19. Exurge Deus ; Arise , ô God ; and , y y Psal. 68. 1. Exurgat Deus ; Let God arise . Not that vpon euery slight wrong , and euery trifling occasion , men should be making of their moane in that manner vnto God , and crauing iustice at his hand ; as z z Gen. 16. 5. Sara with Abraham , when her maide Hagar hauing conceiued by him , caried her selfe malapertly towards her : a a Prou: 19. 11. & 24. 11. Magni animi est iniurias d●…spicere . Sen. de ira . l. 2. c. 32. Non est mag●…s animus quem ( vlla ) incurvat ini●…ia . Ibid. l. 3. c. 5 Exilu est , qu●…m incurv●…t minim●… quaeque . Absit itaqu●… à serv●… Christi tale inquinamentum , vt patienti●…●…bus tentalionibus praeparat●… , in frivolis excidat . Tertull . de bon. pat. it is very poore patience that is so easily worne thred-bare . But b b Psal. 142. 3 , 4 , 5. when their wrongs shall be great and greiuous , & they can haue no redresse of them with those that should doe them right , then to make this c c 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Lucian . Dr●…pet . sacram anchoram , their sheate ancker , their vtmost refuge , to flie vnto God , to betake themselues vnto him , make their appeale to him , commence theirsuite beforehim , commit their right to him , and so leaue it with him .

So did our Sauiour Christ , he committed his cause d 1 Pet. 2 ▪ 23. to the iudgement of God his Father . So the godly before Christ . Dauid to Saul , e e 1 Sam. 24. 13. 16. The Lord be iudge betweene thee and mee , and do mee right on thee . And Ieremie ; f f Ier. 18. 19. Hearken , ô , Lord , to mee ; and heare the voice of them that contend with mee : g g Ier. 20. 12. & 11. 20. And let mee see thy vengeance on them : for to thee doe I commit my cause . So the faithfull euer since Christ . h h Ab●…it vt v●…tionē no●… aliquam michinem●…r , quam à Deo expectamus . Tertull. ad S●…ap . Far be it from vs , saith Tertullian , to Scapula , to attempt or plot any reuenge of our wrongs , which we expect from God alone . i i M●…amus preces & lachrymas cord●… ad Deum legatos . Cypr. lib. 4. ep. 4. Let vs send our praiers and teares , saith Cyprian to the persecuted Christians , as Messengers and Embassadors of our hearts vnto God . k k 〈◊〉 vltio dirin●… defendit ; I●…em ad Demetr. It is the diuine l Athanas. apud Epiphan. hares . 6●… . vengeance that must right our wrongs . The Lord , saith Athanasius to Constantine , iudge between thee and me ; since thou giuest way to my false Accusers against mee . m m 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Greg. Naz. in Iulian. orat . 2. We , saith Gregorie Nazianzen speaking of Iulians time , that had no other weapon , nor wall , nor bulwark , but our hope in God left vs , whom could we haue either to heare our praiers , or to protect our persons but him ? n n Rogamus , Auguste , non pugnamus : non timemus , sed rogamus . Amb. l. 5. epist. 33. We intreat ô Emperour , say the Souldiers in Ambrose his cause against the Arrians , We fight not : neither feare we , and yet we intreate onely . Nay , o o Stabimus , & pugnabimus vsque ad mortem , si ita oportu●…rit pro matre nostra , non scutis & gladijs , sed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ad Deum . Bern. epist. 221. Wee will stand to it , and fight it out , euen to death , if neede be , saith Bernard , for our Mother the Church ; but with such weapons as we may , not with sword and target , but with teares and praiers to God .

This hath beene the practise of good Christians in all ages . And to doe otherwise is p p Deut. 32. 35. Rom. 12. 19. to sit downe in Gods seate , to take the sword out of Gods hand , to make our selues Gods , q q Rom. 13. 2. Math. 26. 52. to peruert the order , to resist the ordinance of God ; and so to bring vpon our owne heads the iust vengeance of God , while wee seeke to right or reuenge our selues vpon others .

Againe those that be in place of authoritie and iudicature must be admonished , that they be wary how they cary themselues in their places . Remember they must , that r r Quicquid à vobis minor extimescit , Maior hoc vobis Dominus minatur : Omne sub regno grauiore regnum est Sen. Thyest. 3 3. as they are aboue others , so there is one aboue them : as they now iudge others , so there is an other that will one day iudge them , to whom they must once giue account of their iudgement , and vnto whom an appeale lieth from the highest and greatest of them , euen from Caesar himselfe .

s s Dan. 6. 1 , 2. It pleased Darius , saith the story , to set ouer his kingdome 120. Gouernours to rule the whole state : and ouer them againe three , that they should all giue vp an account vnto of their gouernment . And at Athens , howsoeuer t t 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . some of their Officers were not accountable to any ; yet the most of them were after their offices expired to giue a strict account to certaine u u 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Vise●…di Poll●… & Harp●…cr . Et de Co●… . Romanis Polyb. hist. l. 6. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Hinc Plin. panegyr . Ad●… Imperator cum imperio calculum ponere : sic exeat , sic redeat , tanquam rationem redditurus . Auditors by the state thereunto assigned , each one that could charge them before those of any wrong done him while they were in Office , hauing free liberty so to doe .

So it hath pleased God the Father x x Ioh. 5 22 , 27. to make his Sonne Iesus Christ his Generall , his O●…cumenicall Auditor : and not some alone , but all Offices and Officers must be accountable vnto him . For y y Rom. 14. 10. Wee must all appeare before Christs Tribunall : and , z z Rom. 14. 12. E●…ery one 〈◊〉 there g●… account vnto God for himselfe . a a 2 Cor. 5. 10. Wee must all , saith the Apostle , be made to appeare there . But what ? And wee alone ? Meane men alone , or Ministers onely ? No : b b Apoc. 20. 12. I saw the dead , saith Iohn , great and small ; c c Apoc. 6. 15. Kings and Princes , and Captaines and cheife Commanders as well as others ; stand before him that sate on the white Throne : and d d Dan. 7. 10. the bookes were opened , and e e Apoc. 20. 13. they were iudged all concerning the things that were written in those bookes according to their workes .

As the Apostle therefore warneth Masters ; f f Coloss. 4. 1. Masters deale equally with your seruants ; considering that you haue also a Master in Heauen : g g Coloss. 3. 25. and there is no respect of persons with him . So be you admonished to cary your selues in your places equally and vprightly ; remembring that you haue h h Iudic●… omnium Deum . Heb. 12. 23. a iudge also in heauen , before whom you and those that you now iudge must together one day appeare ; i i Rom. 2. 11. Iob. 34. 19. and there is no respect of persons with him . And as k k R●…lat quod ipse qui n●…nc testis est sub homine iudice , ●…abit aliquand●… indicandus sub Deo iudice , qui simul iudicis & testis 〈◊〉 officio . &c Rob. Grosthed Lincoln . Ep. in decalog . mand . 8. that worthy Byshop willeth a witnesse when hee is deposed before a Iudge here , so to speake as remembring that he must answere hereafter for what hee now speaketh , before one that will be both witnes and Iudge , because l l Io●… . 2. 25. he shall need no information from any other , and in whose presence now hee speaketh : So you , when you sit vpon the bench , remember that Bench , before which you must once appeare to answere for what you doe there ; when you looke downe to the bar , be put in minde of that Bar , at which one day you must stand that now sit on the Bench amiddes those that stand before you now at the bar : and so iudge you now as in the presence of him , that now seeth you , and hereafter will iudge you , and * * Iudex quisque iudicij sui supern●… i●…dicem sustin●…bit . Chrysolog . serm. 26. vnto whom you must all one day giue an account of your iudgement .

Let the dread hereof preuaile with you , as it did sometime with Nehemie . m m N●…m . 5. 15. The Rulers , saith he , before me were ouer-burthensome to the people , and their seruants domineered ouer them . But so did not I for feare of God . As it did with Ioseph : When n n Gen●…s . 50. 15. his brethren iustly expected some hard measure at his hands after their Fathers decease , remembring o o Gen 42. 21. what hard measure they had before offered vnto him ; p p Gen. 50. 19. Feare ye not ; saith he : For am not I vnder God ? As with Iob : q q Iob. 31. 21 , 22 , 23. If I haue lift vp mine hand against the fatherlesse , when he sought mine helpe , and I saw that I might steed him in the gate : Let my shoulder fall from my shoulder-blade , and mine arme-bones bee broken . For destruction from God was a terrour to me : I knew I could not escape his highnesse . And when you shall be moued and solicited to doe ought against right , say as the same Iob saith , If I take this bribe , or doe this wrong ; r r Iob. 31. 14. what shall I doe when God ariseth ? or what shall I answere him when he visiteth ?

Let this dread , I say , of God that highest Iudge , that Iudge of Iudges , preuaile so with you to keepe you in awe and within compasse , as the dread of you doth the like with other inferiour ones for the present . Otherwise s s O 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Plut. ad praefect . indoct . if you shall wittingly and wilfully pervert iustice , and cary things away by might and maine after your owne pleasure , Libidine atque licen●…ia sua pro legibus vt●…ntur . Salust . ad C●…sar . making your owne lust your onely law ; or t t Quid enim re●…ert qua occasione viam 〈◊〉 ●…eritatis , seducantur ig●…ari , s●…quantur spontanei , attrahantur 〈◊〉 , compellantur i●…viti Bern. de bonis d●…r . if you shall suffer your selues to be ouerswaied by feare , seduced and led aside by fauour , or corrupted with gifts : u u Eccles. 11. 9. Know ye for certaine , be ye assured of it , that , as Salomon saith , for all these things God will bring you to iudgement . And though you may cary matters here x x Fsai. 29. 15 , 16. so closely and so smoothly , that men cannot espie nor discouer your corrupt cariage , and so you go away with the name of good Iustices and iust Iudges , when indeed you are nothing lesse ; yet y y Eccles. 12. 14. Euery one of your actions will God one day bring to triall , and z z Luk. 8. 17. 1 Cor 4 5. euery secret worke be it good or bad . And so I passe to the next point .

Where men that should iudge , either iudge not at all , or iudge otherwise then they ought , there will God himselfe at length arise and iudge .

I say , If they iudge not , or if they iudge vniustly , if they doe not iustice , or if they doe iniustice , ( and it is a point of iniustice in them not to doe iustice , a a Non 〈◊〉 nocens , s●…d patt●…o fuit . de Claudio A sonius . Et Ausonium imitatus G. Godwin in ●…pic●…dio Iac. Mauritii , Nes faciendo nocens , 〈◊〉 patiendo fui . there is passiue as well as actiue iniustice ) then will God arise and iudge : For otherwise when they doe their duty , there is no neede for God to enterpose himselfe and his power , vnlesse it be to protect them . It had beene needlesse and superfluous for Paul to appeale to Augustus , if Faelix or Festus had done him right .

Againe , at length , I say ; because God doth it not euer instantly , but delaieth it oft ▪ times : He seemeth sometime to b b Hab. 1. 13. sit still and say nothing , to looke on and keepe silence , c c Psal 44. 24. & 78. 65. to be , as d d 1 King . 18. 27. Elias said of Baal , as one fast asleepe : as these kinde of speeches and the like imply ; e e Psal. 3. 7. & 7 6. & 10. 12. & 74. 22. Arise ; and ▪ f f Psal. 35. 23. & 59. 5. Esai . 51. 9. Awake ; and , g g Psal. 28. 1. & 39. 12. & 83. 1. Be not silent ; ô ▪ God : Which he doth , h h 1 Pet. 1. 7. to trie our faith , i i Apoc. 14. 12. to exercise mans patience , k k Rom. 9. 22. to shew his own , l l Gen. 15. 16. Math. 23. 32. 1 Thess. 2. 16. to let wicked ones fill vp the measure of their iniquity .

But m m Esai . 44. 14. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . ▪ Solon apud Stob. tom . ●… . c. 9. though he beare long in this kind , yet will he not alwaies for beare ; but he will at length arise and iudge the earth : judge those that pervert iustice , yea iudge the whole State where iudgement is so perverted . When children pilled the people of God , and women ruled ouer them , and they beate the poore to pieces , and ground their faces to pouder : n n Esai 3. 12. 16. The Lord , saith the Prophet , will stand vp to plead , and to giue sentence for his people : He will enter into iudgement with the Elders , and with the Princes of his people : And , o o Esai 59. 14. 19. when iudgement was turned backward , and iustice made to stand aloofe off , and truth was falne in the streetes , and equity could not enter ; and true dealing failed ; and p p In ●…oc scelus res devoluta ●…st , vt non possit esse salvus qui nolit esse malus ; nec à latrocinijs tut●…s , nisi qui latronibus ipsis par fuerit . Salvian . de prouid . l. 5. he that refrained from euill made himselfe but a pray and a spoile : and there was no iudgement , not one that would or durst right the wronged : Then God , wondring that none would offer himselfe to plead for or to protect the oppressed , put on iustice as a corslet , and salvation as an helmet , and zeale as a cloake , and robes of vengeance for a gowne , to repay his enemies according to their deedes , and to render fury to the Wrongdoers and Oppressors of his people .

The certainty hereof may be further confirmed , à natura rei , à natura Dei , Either from the nature of the thing it selfe ,

Or from the nature of God himselfe .

For the former : It is the praier of the Spirit : for by it were both this and the like else-where endited . And as our Sauiour saith of himselfe ; q q Ioh. 11. 42. I thanke thee , Father ; thou hearest me alwaies : As the praier of Christ is alwaies heard : so the praier of the Spirit is alwaies heard . r r Rom. 8. 27. For the Spirit maketh intercession , saith the Apostle , according to God for the Saints . And , s s 1 Ioh. 5. 14. 15. This assurance we haue , that whatsoeuer we aske of God according to his will , he heareth vs . And if we be sure that he heareth vs , t t Certi sumus quod habenius . then are wee no lesse sure that we haue whatsoeuer wee aske : as sure are we to haue it as if we had it already . Yea to reason , as Augustine doth , u u Orat Christianus , & exauditur ? ●…rat Christus , & non exauditur ? Aug. in Psal. Is any Christian heard when he praieth ? and is not Christ himselfe much more ? So x x Ioh. 14. 13 , 14. is euery childe of God heard , when hee praieth though not immediately inspired ? and is not the Spirit of God it selfe much more heard , and the praier that y y 2 Tim. 3. 15. it immediately inspireth ? z z Qu●…dò n●…n exauditur à patre , qui exaudit cum patre ? Aug. ibid. How can he be but heard of the Father praying , that together with the Father is praied vnto and heareth praier ?

As there is an eccho of obedience answering the word and commandement of God in the heart of euery faithfull one . a a Psal. 27. 8. When thou saist , Seeke my face ; mine heart , saith the Psalmist , returneth answere againe , Thy face , ò Lord , will I seeke : So there is an eccho of audience and gratious acceptance with God euer answering the praiers and supplications of such . b b Psal. 9. 19. Surge , Deus ; Arise , ô God ; and , c c Psal. 68. 1. Exurgat Deus , Let God arise : saith the soule of the poore faithfull oppressed . And , d d Psal. 12. 5. Surgam , I will arise , saith God , for the oppression of the needie , and the sighes of the poore : And , e e Psal. 102. 13. Surges , Thou wilt arise , saith the Psalmist to God , and haue pity vpon Sion , when the time is once come : And , f f Esai . 3. 13. Surget , He will arise , saith the Prophet of God , and st●… vp to giue sentence for his poore oppressed people .

g g Psal. 34. 17. The iust man crieth , saith the Psalmist , when hee is thus oppressed ; and God he●…th him . How can he doe otherwise ? Marke our Sauiours owne argument . h h Luk. 18. 4 , 5 , 7. If importunate clamour preuaile with the vniust Iudge that neither regardeth man nor feareth God , shall not God much more auenge his owne elect ones that crie day and night to him , for the wrong that is done them , and the right that is denied them ? I tell you ; saith our Sauiour , and he is i i Ioh. 14. 6. truth it selfe that speaketh it ; though he forbeare long , yet at length he will doe it .

Yea suppose they doe not crie themselues ; k k Lam. 3. 27 , 2●… , 29. they sit downe by it , and thrust their mouths in the dust , l l Psal. 39. 9. swallow their griefe with silence , and m m 〈◊〉 . 7. 9. beare that burden with patience that God hath called them to vndergo and endure , n n Ps●…l. 109. 4. Luk 23. 34 ▪ Act. 7. 60. 1 Cor. 4. 12 13. praying rather to God for those that persecute and oppresse them , then either expostulating with them , or exclaiming against them , or making solemne appeale and complaint to God of them . They need not . Resipsaclamat ; The thing it selfe doth it , whether they doe or no. o o Iam. 5. 4. The very hire of the Labourers that is with-held from them , it selfe crieth , saith Iames : and the crie of it as well as of the persons themselues entreth into Gods eares . As , p p Gen. 4. 10. the bloud of Abell from of the earth ; so q q Habb. 2. 11. 12. the very timber and stone from the building that is founded vpon falshood and built vp with bloud , crieth for vengeance to heauen . And not r r Gen. 1●… . 20. & 19. 13. from the sinnes of Sodome onely , that filthy stie , but s s Iona. 1. 2. from the sinnes of Nineueh too , that t t Nahum . 3. 1. bloudy shambles where lies and robbery roust , and oppression and iniustice harbour , doth a loud crie ascend and appeare before God .

And can God doe lesse then regard and take notice of this crie ? No : his owne nature will not endure , that he should doe otherwise .

For first ; God is u u Psal. 92. 15. a most iust God ; yea he is iustice it selfe : He is originally iust ; essentially iust : so iust , that x x Qui vult esse iniustum , non vult esse Deum . Bern. de temp. 58. he can no more cease to be iust , then hee can cease to be God . Being so iust , he cannot but loue iustice . y y Psal. 11. 7. Iustus Iehova quae iusta sunt , diligit : The iust Lord , saith the Psalmist , loueth that that is iust . Louing iustice he cannot but hate and abhorre all iniustice , and all vniust ones . Each thing naturally hateth that that is contrary to it own nature . z z Psal. 45. 7. Thou louest righteousnesse , and hatest iniquitie . And , * * Psal. 11. 5. Those that loue violence , he abhorreth from his heart .

But as there is no impiety to a a Ierem. 7. 11. 2 Chron. 36. 14. that impiety that is committed in Gods sanctuary : so there is no iniustice to that iniustice , whereby men b b Inter leges ipsas contra leges deli●…quitur ●… inter iura contra iura peccatur . nec innocentis illic , vbi defenditur res●…rvatur Cyprian . ad Donat. l. 2. ep. 2. Sic Act. 23. 3. amiddes the lawes sinne against Law , and doe iniustly c c In loco iustitia sacr●… . Cartwr . in Eccles. 3. 16. in the very seate and sanctuary of iustice . d d Quo quid esse 〈◊〉 , vel iniqui●… potest ? Saluian . de prouid . l. 5. Prou. 24. 24. Then which , what can be more abominable in the eies of any iust man ; and much more then of him that is most iust and iustice it selfe . e e Genes. 18. 25. Should not the Iudge of the whole world doe iustice ? saith Abraham . Or can he doe lesse in a case of such iniustice as this is ?

Againe f f Exod. 34. 6. God is a mercifull God ; no lesse mercifull then iust . And therefore cannot but heare the crie of the oppressed , and take vengeance on vnmercifull men . It is the argument that God himselfe vseth by Moses . g g Exod. 22. 22 , 23 , 24 , 27. Vex not , nor oppresse the widow , the Orphan , nor the poore ; ( they are my Clients , that I haue taken into my protection ; ) If you doe , when they crie to mee , I will certainely heare them : for I am mercifull : and I will slay you with the sword , so that your wiues shall be widowes , and your children Orphans .

h h Psal. 59. 5. Awake , ô Lord , to visite , saith the Psalmist ; Et ne sis misericors , and be not mercifull to those that transgresse malitiously . A strange kinde of praier , that the Spirit of God should intreate him not to be mercifull , who cannot be but most mercifull , being mercy it selfe . But we must know , that euen i i 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cleon apud Thucyd . l. 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Eurip. Agaue . Mis●…ricordibus miserendum est . Signin●… in Conc. R●…m . c. 18. At dissimiles insequi pium ●…st . Plin. panegyr . this also , it is a point of mercy , to be mercilesse to vnmercifull men .

When an ouer-mild Ruler was sometime commended for a very good man ; k k 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ; Plut. d●… adulat . & de vtilit . ex inim . Vel , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vti i●… lib. de i●…id . & odio . Vnde emēdand●… idem in Lycurg . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ; dele●…a particula negativa . Neque enim sa●…is amarit bo●…s , qui malos sa●… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ●…rit . P●…in . panegyr . How can he be a good man , said one , that is alike milde to good and bad ? So here , how should God be a mercifull God , if he should shew mercy on those that are vnmercifull to others ? No : l l Math. 5. 7. Blessed are the mercifull , saith our Sauiour ; for they shall obtaine mercy . m m ●…ac & fie●… : fa●… alteri , & ●…et tibi . Aug. de sanct. 14. Shew mercy , and haue mercie : shew it thou to others , and thou ●…halt haue it at Gods hands . But n n Misericordia●… qui non praestat al●… 〈◊〉 s●…bi . Chryso●… ▪ ser●… . 42. Grati●… illic spera●… , qui 〈◊〉 non prastat . ibid. 8. whoso denieth it to others , debarreth himselfe of it . o o Iam. 2. 13. For there shall be iudgement without mercy , to those that doe not shew mercy .

In a word : God , if he be p p Pater 〈◊〉 ▪ 2 Cor. 1. 3. 〈◊〉 de suo , 〈◊〉 de nostro . Tertull. con●…r . Mar●… . naturally mercifull , as he is mercy it selfe ; then as he loueth mercy in man ; ( q q Mica . 7. 1●… . mercy pleaseth him , saith the Prophet : ) so he hateth vnmercifulnesse toward man : and therefore cannot but doe iustice in the behalfe of those that are cruelly and vnmercifully dealt with .

So that whether we regard the praier of Gods Spirit , which cannot but preuaile ; or the wrongs of the oppressed that crie aloud in Gods eares ; or the nature of God , who is iustice it selfe , and r r Habb : 1. 12. can endure no iniquitie , is mercy it selfe , and must needes then s s Psal. 5. 6. 〈◊〉 ●… . 16 ▪ 19. abhorre crueltie : it cannot be but that at length he must arise and redresse all such abuses , though for a while he may seeme to sit still and forbeare .

The Vse whereof concerneth either the oppressed , or their Oppressors .

The oppressed it teacheth patience . For is there a God , that will t t Psal. 146. 7. doe them right that endure wrong . Then u u Iam. 5. 7 , 8. be patient , my brethren , and waite the Lords comming : be patient , I say , and quiet your mindes : for the comming of the Lord draweth neere .

x x Eccles. 5. 7. If thou seest in a Countrey the poore oppressed , and iudgement and iustice perverted ▪ y y Sicut . 1 P●…t . 4. 12. wonder not at it , saith Salomon . No ? why who would not wonder , might some say , to see iniquity set , where iustice ought to be seated ? yea but be not vtterly dismaide yet in that regard ; but remember , that There is one higher then the highest of them that regardeth it ; and there be z z Mysterium Triad●…s Iun. ad Angelos refer●… Cart●…r . those that be higher then they . * * Eccles. 3. 17. He , when time shall be , will iudge both the iust and the wicked , by righting the one , by reuenging the other .

a a Cartwr . in Eccles. As a man therefore that is ouerswaied with might and strong hand against right in some one Court , yet is not out of hope nor out of heart , so long as he hath liberty to appeale to some higher Court , so be it he be sure of the equity and sincerity , of the vprightnesse and integritie of the partie whom he is to make his appeale vnto . So those that are here oppressed , are not therefore to be discouraged , if at mans hand they can haue no helpe here : they may make their appeale to God , and they are sure to preuaile with him according to the equitie of their cause : for he is one with whom b b Iob. 34. 19. there is no respect of persons , c c 2 Chron. 19. 7. nor accepting of bribes , one who as he will not be corrupted , so d d Galat. 6. 7. he cannot be deluded : And he ( that e e Psal. 9. 18 , 19. the poore may not alwaies be forgotten , nor the hope of the oppressed perish for euer ; ) f f Act. 17. 31. hath set downe a certaine day , wherein hee will without faile and without further delay , if not before , heare euery mans cause , and right euery mans wrong , and doe iustice vpon euery wrong-doer .

As in this world then , howsoeuer some rebellious persons are by martiall law sometime presently dispatched , and some notorious Malefactors are sometime g g Hinc , Re●…s extraordinarius . C●…lius Cicer. famil . epist. 8. lib. 8. Et , Qu●…ionē extraordinariam 〈◊〉 . Sen. epist. 97. Et , ius ex●…ra ordinem dicere . Ibid. 1●…6 . extraordinarily arraigned and out of hand executed in terrorem for the terror and example of others ; yet the greatest number , the maine multitude of Theeues , Robbers and Murtherers and the like Offenders are reserued to the ordinary Sessions , or the Gaole-deliuery at the generall Assise : So God , albeit he sit in Session sometime h h Dan. 4. 28 , 29 , 30. & 5. 26 , 27 , 28. & 7. 25 ▪ 29. Act. 1●… . 23. I●… tanto crimi●… 〈◊〉 invenieus , quasi patientiam pretermisit , & diem extremi 〈◊〉 expectare ad vindictam ●…oluit , sed igne iudicij diem iudicij pr●…enis . Greg. m●…r . 19. 23. by extraordinary iudgements on some notorious Blasphemers , or professed Atheists , or corrupt Iudges , or cruell Oppressors , or vsurping Tyrants , &c. i i Iud. 6 , 7. 2 Pet. 2. 6. making them spectacles of his wrath , and their fearefull ends so many reall sermons of the diuine justice and vengeance to others ; yet the triall of most matters and the execution of most Malefactors hath he differed and put of to * * Act. 17. 31. that day , wherein hee hath determined to iudge the whole world k k Rom. 2. 16. by his Lord Cheife l l Act. 10. 42. Iustice Generall , the Man Iesus , m m Ioh. 5. 22 , 27. whom he hath wholy committed that authority vnto .

And as one therefore that either hath beene robbed himselfe , or that hath had his friend murthered , if he haue the party apprehended and laid vp fast in prison , is not presently out of patience , because he seeth him not instantly executed , but is well content quietly to expect the time of Assise , though it be halfe a yeare after , as long as he is sure that then he shall haue iustice against him . So ought we not presently to grow impatient , if wee see not iustice done instantly , so soone as our ouer-hasty hearts shall require it , vpon those that we suppose haue wronged vs , but rest content to stay Gods leasure , and to expect his vniuersall day of Assise , when we shall be sure without faile to haue iustice done vs according to that which the equitie of our cause shall require : Remembring withall , that all wicked ones are the meane while n n 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Plut. de vindict . divin . Et mundus carcer est , & corpus carcer est . Aug. in Psal: 141. in this world as in Gods Iaile , o o Noli illum putare sine carcere esse . carcer eius , cer eius est . Aug. homil. 40. vnder the chaines of a guilty conscience , out of which there is no possible meanes of escape for them . But let vs haue patience till then , and assure our selues we may , that p p Idoneus patienti●… sequester est Deus , quicquid apud eum deposueris : si iniuriam , v'tor est ; si damnum , restitutor est ; si dolorem , medicus est ; si mortem , resuscitator est . quantum patientia licet , vt Deum habeat debitorem ? Tertull. de bono patient . whatsoeuer losse or damage we shall thereby sustaine , God will then vndoubtedly q q Morae dispendiū●…neris duplo pensatur . Hieron . in Ierem. with large ouerplus make good againe to vs .

And for Oppressors and Wrong-doers , let them take heede how they deceiue themselues , in hoping to go hand ▪ smooth away with it for euer , because they can for the present cary matters so cunningly , delude or corrupt Iudge and Iury , and make all so sure , that no writ of error can be had , nor reversement of iudgement , none to call them or those they corrupt to account here . There is yet an other and an higher Tribunall , whereat they and those that they wrong must appeare one day together , r r Rom. 2. 2 , 6 , 11. Ierem. 17. 9 , 10. where they shall not be able to delude or to bribe Iudge or Iury , or to procure an vniust sentence . Yea Quotidiè ille scit , quis hîc sibi quaerat malum : Qui hîc litem adipisci postulant periu●…io ; Mali res falsas qui impetrant apud iudicem : Iterum ille eam rem iudica●…ā iudicat ; Matore multa multat , quam litem auferunt . Plaut rudent . prolog. where their former sentence and iudgement wretchedly purchased by them , and wrongfully passed for them , shall be ripped vp , and sifted , and reversed againe to their euerlasting confusion , if it be not before that time seriously and sincerely repented of .

Neither let them fondly and vainely suppose , that because it is not done instantly , therefore it will neuer be . s s 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Vise Plut. de sera numinis vindicta . Gods Mil , saith the Heathen man , may seeme to grinde soft and slow , but it grindeth sure and small . t t Non ille omisit proridentiam , aut amisit potentiam , sed patientiam exercet suam , dum panitentiam expectat tuam . Aug. de verb. Ap. 35. It is not because God hath either lost his power or left his prouidence , but because he exerciseth his patience , while he expecteth thy repentance . Which vnlesse with the more speede it u u Currat paenitentia , ne praecurrat sententia . Chrysolog . serm. 167. preuent his sentence , his 2 Pet. 3. 9 , 10. seeming slownesse and slacknes before he commeth , will x x Morae tarditatem paenae grauitate compensat . Qui quo tardius venit , seuerius percutit . Greg. mor. lib. 25. cap. 6 Tanto enim sequit●… dictrictior sententi●… , quant●… 〈◊〉 peccanti 〈◊〉 est patientia . dum diuina se●…eritas e●… iniq●… acri●… punit , quo di●…tius per●…ulit . Grog ibidem c. 2. be recompenced with the surer and seuerer payment , when he doth come . y y 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . E●…ripid . apud Plut. de vindict . diuin. Rarò 〈◊〉 sc●…lestum Deser●…it pede pana 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . car●… . l. 2. 3. ▪ Etsi quis primò periuria celat , Sera tame●… tacitis p●…na venit pedibus . Tibu●… . l. 1. eleg . 10. Et quod ille Odiss . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Seldome , saith the Heathen man , is it , but that the diuine vengeance ouertaketh wicked wretches , though it seeme but limpingly to pursue them . Seldome it is here , but that in some one kinde or other it catcheth them and meeteth with them there , where they looke not for it ; but elsewhere it is certaine neuer to misse of them , whether it meete with them here or no. Remember Ahabs doome and Iezabels . They thought they had made all sure , when false witnesses suborned , and the Iudges corrupted , a wrong iudgement was procured , and poore Naboth not condemned onely but executed . But what doth Elias from God tell Ahab ? z z 1 King . 21. 9 , 23. 2 King . 9. 36 , 37. In that very place where the Dogs licked Naboths bloud , shall dogs likewise licke thy bloud . And , The Dogs shall eate Iezabell vnder the wals of Izreel : And Iezabels carcase shall lie like dung on the ground in the fields of Izreel ; so that none shall be able to say , This is Iesabell . And no lesse euill , if not the same , shall befall all those that take the courses that they did ; 1 1 Psal: 76. 9. When God shall stand vp , as he will one day , to iudge , and to right all those that are now wronged and oppressed .

And it wanteth not his emphasis , that the Psalmist saith , Iudica terram , Iudge the earth : not , Iudica istos , Iudge these men ; but Iudica terram ipsam , Iudge the earth , or the Land it selfe : as he said before , a a Vers. 5. Terrae ipsius statumina dimoventur ; the very props and shores of the whole State are shaken . For when corruptions are crept into place of iudicature , they become the sinnes of the Land , of the State .

When priuate men doe wrong , the sinne is their owne , it is their personall offence , and they must answer it with their heads . But when priuate mens abuses and enormities are borne with or bolstred out by authority , are not duly redressed and condignely punished by those that bee in authority , when either iustice is denied to those that bee wronged , or iniustice is done them by those that should doe them right , then the offence becometh publike , euen the sinne of the whole State : And maketh God enter into iudgement not b b Esai : 3. 13. cum senioribus populi & principibus eius , With the Elders of his people and their Princes alone ; but cum terra vniuersa , with the whole Land , with the state in generall . c c Ierem : 5. 28 , 29. They execute no iudgement , neither for fatherlesse nor poore . And what followeth thereupon ? And should not I then visite my selfe ? saith the Lord : should not my very soule be a venged on such a nation ? not on them alone , but on the Nation it selfe . And , d d Mica ▪ 3. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. Heare this , ye heads of the house of Iacob , and yee Princes of the house of Israel : ye that abhorre iudgement , and pervert iustice , and iudge for gifts , and giue sentence for bribes : Therefore , Vestri causa , for your sake shall Sion be made a ploughed field , and Ierusalem a wast heape , and the Temple a wild forest .

Whence learne ye how to avert and prevent generall iudgements . e e 1 Cor: 11. 31. Si vosipsi iudicaretis , non iudicaremini : If you would iudge your selues , saith the Apostle , you should not be iudged : so here , Si iudicaretis , non iudicaremur : If you that be in place of iudicature would iudge , you might saue God a labour , neither you nor wee should be iudged . * * Amos : 5. 15. The surest course that can be to strengthen a state , and to keep the iudgements of God out from a Countrey or Kingdome , is by the due and diligent administration and execution of iustice , and by keeping out corruptions in places of iudicature .

f f Ierem. 22. 1. 6. Go to the Kings house , saith God to Ieremie , and say ; Heare the word of the Lord , ô King , that sittest on Dauids throne , thou and thy seruants . Thus saith the Lord , Execute ye iudgement and iustice , and rescue the oppressed from the hand of the Oppressour : and vex not the stranger , nor the fatherlesse , nor the Widow : nor doe any violence ; nor shed any innocent bloud . For if you doe this , there shall a succession of Kings sitting vpon Dauids throne enter in at these gates , and ride in charets and on horses , both they and their Followers . But if you doe otherwise ; I sweare by my selfe . g g Iurat vobis , per quem iuratis . Cassiod . variar. l. 8. ep. 3. He sweareth to you , by whom you sweare . And , h happie you for whose sake he vouchsafeth to sweare , if you regard b O beates nos quorum causa Deus iurat ! ô miserrimos si nec suranti credimus ! Tertull. de paenitent . what he sweareth , most vnhappie , if you neither feare , nor beleeue him , when he sweareth . But what is it that so solemnely he sweareth by himselfe ? That this house , ( the Kings palace ) shall be laid wast , and the whole City ( of Ierusalem ) made a wild wildernes . For I will bring in those vpon you , that shall vtterly destroy either . And surely , if by iustice and iudgement i i Prou: 25. 5. & 29. 14. Throne and k k Prou: 29. 4. Ius & aequitas vnicul●… ciuitatum . Cic. parad . Et Cartwr . in Prou. ex Psal. 75. 3. Pietas & iustitia du●… fulcra reipub ▪ columnae regni . State be vpheld and established : no maruell if iniustice and wrong iudgement vtterly ouerturne either .

Whence further againe obserue we , who they be that may proue the greatest and most dangerous enemies to the publike peace and tranquillitie of the present estate . l ▪ Vbi non est pudor , nec curaiuris , sanctitas , pietas , fides , Instabile regnum est . ▪ Sen. Thyest 2. 1. I●…iqua nunquam regna perpetuò manent . Sen. Med●… .

Were such a question propounded to many seuerally , it is likely , as the common saying and the vsuall manner is , that many men would be of many mindes , that some would say one sort , and some other againe name another sort .

Some it may be would point at the promiscuous multitude of idle Varlets that swarme about the skirts and suburbs of this City especially , m m Vulgus cuiusque motus novi cupidum . Tacit hist. l. 1. Seditiosum , atque discordiosum , cupidum novarum verum . Salust . Iugurth . ready to make head and doe mischeife , if opportunitie were offered . Others such notorious and enormious Transgressors , as by walowing in such beastly and abominable filth , as either n n Leuit. 18. 27 , 21. caused the Land of Canaan to spew out her Inhabitants , or o o Genes. 19. 24 , 25. Iud. 7. drew downe fire and brimstone on Sodome and Gomorrha from heauen . And it is not vnlikely but that our Popish Priests and Iesuites would not vndeseruedly haue the most honest-minded mens voices , whom yet we suffer too freely to lie and lodge like aspes and Vipers in the bosome and bowels of our State .

But I would say , and I shall make good what I say by Gods word , that there may be ( to let passe the former ) much more dangerous enemies to vs then these . p p 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Malum iudicium causa est c●…iusvis mali . Iamblychus apud Sto●… ▪ tom . 2. ●… . 44. Corrupt Rulers , vniust Iudges , Oppressors of Gods Saints and Seruants , and Perverters of iudgement and iustice are more dangerous to Crowne and State , I say not then idle Vagrants , or then Whore-masters and Adulterers , or then Theeues and Murtherers ; ( and yet the more duly and diligently iustice is executed , the fewer there will be of all such sorts ; ) but euen then popish Traytors and Conspirators , euen the very worst of them , then the very Inventors and Contrivers of the Powder-plot it selfe .

The one vse the might and malice but of man , or of the Deuill at most , against vs ; which God is able to courb and restraine , to rule and over-rule at his pleasure . Whereas q q 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Hesiod . oper. the other encense and bring in the wrath of God on vs , which no created power is able to avert or avoide . r r Ierem. 21. 12. Execute iustice and iudgement , saith God , and deliuer the Oppressed out of the hand of the Oppressor : least my wrath breake out like fire , and so burne that none can quench it for the wickednesse of your workes .

The sinnes of priuate Offenders bring wrath vpon themselues : But the wincking at them or partaking with them in those whose place and calling is to punish them , maketh them the sinnes of the State ; and so draweth downe the wrath of God vpon the whole land : it is s s Mica . 3. 12. Vestri causa , For them that Sion is ploughed , and Ierusalem sacked , and the whole Land dispeopled and destroied . It is their not doing of iustice or their doing of iniustice , that enforceth God to arise and iudge the whole State .

But what is the reason , why God should so take to heart the poore peoples oppressions as to stand vp and iudge himselfe in this sort ? For all people , saith the Psalmist , are thine inheritance They are all t t Psal. 28. 9. thy people , u u Psal. 2. 8. thy possession , x x Psal. 74. 2. thy portion , y y Psal. 74. 9. thy poore ; and therefore their cause it is in some respect z z Psal. 74 , 21 , 22. thine .

God hath a speciall right to them , a speciall interest in them , * * 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 in all nations , in all people , as well in poore as in rich , as well in low and obscure as in high and honourable , as well in people as in Prince , as well in Subiect as in Soueraigne .

He hath interest in the one as well as the other ;

1. Iure creationis , By right of creation : Hee hath made the one as well as the other . a a Prou. 22. 2. The poore and the rich 〈◊〉 together , saith Salomon ; God is the maker of them both . b b Iob. 31. 15. He that made mee , saith Iob , made my seruant too . And , c c Iob. 14. 15. He loueth , saith the same Iob ▪ the worke of his owne hands . d d Iob. 34. 19. Neither doth he accept the person of Princes , or regard the rich rather the●… the poore ; saith Elihu : because they bee all alike the worke of his hands .

2. Iure redemptionis , by right of redemption . He hath redeemed the one as well as the other . e e Galat. 3. 26 , 27 , 28. You are all alike the sonnes of God by faith in Christ ; as many of you as being baptised into Christ , haue solemnely put on Christ : And there is no difference of Iew or Greeke , bond or free , rich or poore , male or female , but ye all are one in Christ . Yea , f f 1 Cor. 1. 25 , 26. You see , brethren , your calling , ●…ow that there are not many wise ones after the flesh , nor many great ones in the world , nor many rich ones neither , among you , But g g Iam. 2. 5. God hath chosen a many meane and despised ones in the world , to bee rich in grace , and heires of his kingdome . The very poorest soules ransome cost Christ as deare a price as the redeeming of the richest did : and the meanest true Christian hath as good , and as great a portion in Christ , as the mightiest Monarke in the world either hath or can haue .

3. Iure protectionis , By right of preseruation and protection . He preserueth the one as well as the other ; he prouideth for the one as well as for the other ; he protecteth the one as well as the other .

He preserueth and vpholdeth the one as well as the other . For h h Iob. 12. 9 , 10. as his hand hath made them all : so the soule , or the life , of euery liuing creature is in his hand ; and the brea●…h of all mankinde . And be wee high or low , rich or poore , i i Act. 17. 28. Wee all liue and mo●…e and haue our being in and by him .

He prouideth for the one as well as the other . His prouidence extendeth it selfe vnto either . As k k Act. 17. 26. he made all men of one bloud to dwell on the face of the whole earth : so hath he bounded out to each one his place of abode : and l l Act. 17. 25. he giueth as life and breath and being , so all things else too , vnto all . As m m 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Aristip. apud Laert. he sometime answered the beggerly Philosopher asking him whence he had all his store : n n 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Pindar . Is●…hns . ode 5. The poore man hath his pittance from no other hand , then the rich man hath his world of wealth . It is the same God o o Psal. 65. 9. & 68. 10. that prouideth as well for the Pesant , as for the Prince .

He protecteth the one as well as the other . Yea he hath vndertaken more specially to protect as p p Psal. 18. 50. Princes , so q q 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Menand . apud Stob. to●… . 2. cap. 93. Pauperes 〈◊〉 . Psal. 74. 19. poore ones . As Princes though they protect all their Subiects in generall , yet are wont to vouch safe more speciall protection in some cases to some sorts : so God the Protectour of all in generall , hath yet more specially taken into his protection the poore , the Widow , the Fatherlesse , the friendlesse , the helples . r r Psal. 10. 14. The poore , saith the Psalmist , committeth his cause vnto thee : for thou 〈◊〉 the Helper of the Fatherlesse . And , s s Psal. 9 9. The Lord is a refuge for the poore ; or , as our Meeter well hath it , the poore mans Protectour . And , t t Psal 68. 5. He is the Father of the fatherlesse , and the Widowes Iudge , euen God in his holy habitation .

And therefore as he giueth Iudges his Deputies a speciall charge of such . u u Vers. 3. 4. Defend the poore , and the fatherlesse ; see that the afflicted and needy haue iustice : deliuer the poore and the needy ; rescue them out of wicked mens hands . So to all others he giueth a caueate concerning them , to take heed how they wrong them : x x Exod. 22. 22. Z ch. 7. 10. Vex ye not any widow , or poore fatherlesse childe . And where ought is done contrary to * Malac. 3. 5. this his inhibition , he taketh speciall notice of it , and threatneth in seuere manner to avenge it . y y Psal. 10. 14. Thou seest it , saith the Psalmist , and viewest oppression and wrong , to take the matter into thine hands . And , z z Exod. 22. 22 , 23. If you vex or oppresse any such , saith God , and they call or crie to mee , I will not faile to heare them : But I will draw neere vnto you to iudgement ; and I will be a swiftwitnesse ( there shall neede no further proofe nor pleading , I heare and see all my selfe , I see your wrong , and heare their cries ) against those that vex and oppresse such ; and feare not me : saith the Lord of hoastes .

I might adde a fourth right , Ius glorificationis , Of glorification , He hath purposed and promised to glorifie as well the one as the other . For a a Luk. 12. 32. Iam. 2. 5. he hath chosen the poore as to grace , so to glory , to be heires of his Kingdome . b b Luk. 6. 20. Blessed be you , poore ones ( so be you be c c Math. 5. 3. poore in Spirit as well as poore in purse ) saith our Sauiour : for yours is the Kingdome of heauen . And as Augustine well reasoneth in an other case , d d Quidat regnum , non ●…abit ●…iaticū . Aug. de verb. Dom. He that will giue them a Crowne , will he deny them a crum ? So , he that e e Apoc. 1. 6. & 3. 21. 1 Cor 6. 2 , 3. will make them Kings and Iudges , will he not much more doe them iustice ?

To conclude : as he reasoned sometime for the body and the resurrection of it ; f f Quam De●… manibus suis ad imaginem sui struxit , quam de suo afflatu ad viv●…citatis suae similitudinem animauit , quam incolatui , fructui , dominatui totius suae operationis praepesuit , quam sacramentis suis discipl●…nisque vestivit , cuius munditias amat , castigationes probat , passiones sibi adpreciat ; haeccine non resurget , toti●…ns Dei ? Absit vt Deus manuum suarum operam , ingenij sui curam , adflatus sui vaginam , moli●…ionis suae reginam , liberalitatis suae haeredem , religionis suae sacerdotem , testimonij sui militem , Christi sui sororem in ater●… destituat interitum . Tertul. deresurr . carn. the body that God himselfe at first fashioned , that he quickned , that hee adorned and advanced , that he protecteth and preserueth , that he hath redeemed by his Sonne , that he hath sealed with his Sacraments , whose puritie he desireth , whose chastitie he delighteth in , whose discipline hee approueth , whose patience he prizeth ; how can he suffer it to perish vtterly , that is so many waies his ? So may we reason for the poore oppressed and Gods righting of their wrongs : Those that God hath created , and that in his owne image , hath redeemed with a price of inestimable worth , doth in fatherly manner daily preserue and prouide for , hath taken more specially into his protection , is purposed to make one day g g Rom. 8. 17. Apoc. 21. 7. coheires with his Christ ; how can he choose but doe them iustice , and right all their wrongs , that are in so speciall manner so many waies his ?

That which may serue , briefly to admonish , as all others , so those especially that be in place of authority and iudicature , to take heed how they contemne or wrong their poore brethren in regard of their pouerty and penurie , and meane estate in the world ; or how in fauour of any great one , that oppresseth or opposeth them , they either deny or delay to doe them right . Since the poore are part of Gods portion as well as the richest , as the greatest , and may haue as good part in God as they .

Say of the poore man therefore that appeareth before thee , as Iob sometime of his seruant : h h Iob. 31. 13. I may not contemne him , be he neuer so meane : i i Iob. 31. 15. The same God that made mee , made him too : yea , the same Christ that redeemed mee , redeemed him too : k k 〈◊〉〈◊〉 , quem serrum tuum vocas , ●…x 〈◊〉 or●…um 〈◊〉 , e●…dem 〈◊〉 cae●…o , aequè spir●…re , aequè vivere , aequè mori . Sen. ep. 47. He is made of the same mould that I my selfe am : he ●…eareth the same image of God that I my selfe doe . And , He that either l l Prou. 14. 31. oppresseth or m m Prou. 17. 5. reproacheth the poore , he wrongeth his Maker : he that oppresseth or reproacheth him , hee wrongeth his Redeemer .

Yea he that oppresseth or reproacheth him wrongeth his Protectour : ( It is a wrong to the Prince for any man to meddle with those whom hee hath vndertaken to protect : ) who will not suffer such wrong therefore to go vnreuenged ; it were against his owne honour . n n Prou 23. 10 , 11. Remoue not the auncient bound , saith Salomon , nor encroach vpon the fields of the Fatherlesse : For their Redeemer is mightie ; ( though they be feeble themselues ) and he will maintaine their cause against thee . And againe , o o Prou. 2●… . 22 , 33. Rob not the poore , because he is poore ; neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement : For the Lord himselfe will plead their cause ; and he will spoile the soule of such as spoile them .

If one hane busines before you , be he himselfe neuer so meane , that hath the Princes protection , or that belongeth to some Great-man , my Lord Duke , or my Lord Marquesse , how charily will you be sure to cary your selues in his cause , how wary of doing him the least iniustice that may be ? You make full account to heare of it againe , if you doe otherwise . But euery poore oppressed one that repaireth to you for reliefe and redresse of his wrongs , that resorteth to your seates , as to Gods Sanctuary , for succour , he is a Sanctuary man , hee is one that belongeth vnto God , God hath speciall interest in him , he hath vndertaken the protection of him . And how carefull , yea how fearefull should you be then of doing the least wrong or iniustice vnto any , that he owneth and that he hath promised to protect ?

Assure your selues , if you doe , you shall heare of it with a witnesse , p p Psal. 76. 9. When God shall arise to iudge the earth , and to right the wrongs of all his oppressed ones . At what time you shall finde our Sauiours words to be true , which I shall shut and seale vp all withall : q q Math. 18. 6. Better it were for you , that a ●…il-stone were hanged about your neckes , and that you were so drowned in the deepest Ocean , then that you should , in your places especially , doe the least wrong to the least of those little ones ; whose wrongs God neither will nor can suffer to passe vnreuenged , because they are part of his inheritance . ( *** )

FINIS .

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