IT is not my purpose to extoll the Dignity , or discourse of the Duety of a Prophet , in the presence of a KING . The wordes of my Text , I confesse , naturally exact it ; yet may it seeme vnseasonable , in this Royall Presence , in this place , especially in these times . Miserable , & wretched times ! in which Eudaemon . Becani Contron . Tortus . Pellar . Gretser . Coquaeus . Schoppius . Mariana . Sanders . Carerius . Allin . Parsons . Philopator . Calvino-Turcis . and the damnable and Blasphemous , not to be named , Pacen . and infinite other . the chiefe and principall , the essentiall and fundamentall points of Religion , and Christianity , which should breed Peace in our Consciences , and bring Salvation to our Soules , are almost growne harsh and out of fashion , stale , and out of request . Looke into the many Bookes and volumes , which in these later yeares , haue proceeded from our English Fugitives , and Romish Adversaries ; in some , you shal finde the Name of Christ seldome mentioned ; in many , no one point of Religion handled ; in most , if any be handled , it is but obiter , and in transitu , by the way , and superficially , to farce and stuffe out the Volume ; the maine scope , & drift of all , hath beene , to advance the Miter aboue the Crowne , and to erect the Monster of the more then Transcendent Superioritie of the Sea and Church of Rome . Insomuch that we are now forced to spend our times & studies , our paines and watchings , our Books and writings , our discourses and preachings , yea our very Spirits and Liues , in vpholding the Thrones , in sustaining the Scepters , in setling the Crownes , nay in vindicating the Liues , the Estates , and Dignities of Sacred and Anointed KINGS , from the vniust and bloody Assasinations of Romish and Antichristian Tyranny .

Our chiefe , nay our onely Religion , in these daies consists not in the Faith of that one only Christ , that one only deare & Beloued Sonne of that Living God : Io . 6. but in a servile and slavish Submission and Prostitution to the Sea , and Pope of Rome . You knowe whose resolution it is , Quicquid profiteatur , Catholicus non est , Bell . ad Apol . qui est , à Romani Pontificis obedientiâ , alienus : Professe what you will professe , vnderstand the Scriptures never so exactly , imbrace the Gospell never so syncerely , beleeue all the Articles of Faith never so stedfastly , professe the Truth never so constantly , practise the workes of Charitie never so devoutly , suffer , & shed your Blood , & lay downe your Liues for Christ never so patiently ; I adde , Invocate all the Saints in Heaven , adore the Fleshly Body of Christ in the Sacrament , mutter your Confession , performe your Penance , buy your Absolution , purchase Pardons , & Indulgences ; All this , and more , is not sufficient , to constitute a Catholike . One thing remaines , you must cast down your Crowns at the Feet of that Man of sin , you must leaue your Kingdomes to bee disposed , at his pleasure ; otherwise you haue no part in the true Church , you can expect no portion in Gods Kingdome . If he Thunder , the Earth must shake , the Foundations of the world must be moued , the Thrones of Kings must totter , their Scepters must fal out of their hands , their Crownes must be torne from their Heads , All must be cast at his Feet . If you demand ( Quo warranto ? ) by what warrant , and Commission , He claimes it ? The words of my Text , See! this day haue I set thee vp , &c. they are his warrant , they are his Commission . A weake warrant , of so vniust vsurpation ! as I trust I shall make manifest , if first you will giue mee leaue briefly to vnfold the words themselues .

The words in their proper and naturall , in their literall & Principall sense , are appropriated to CHRIST IESVS , the Prince of Prophets , who hath Excellentiam Potestatis : Personally they are directed to IEREMY ; who was Propheta constitutus , antequàm natus , ordained a Prophet of God , before he was borne , the Sonne of Man : In a subordinate , and qualified sense , they may be applied to all the Prophets , al the Apostles , all the Ministers of the Gospell ; who haue delegatam Potestatem . All , Similiter , but not Aequaliter , with like , but not with equall power , being set over Nations and Kingdomes , &c. CHRIST , in that high Preeminence , and superexcellency of all power , which was giuen him of his Father , both in Heaven and in Earth : Mat . 28. Ieremy , by extraordinary calling and vocation from Heaven : the rest , by subordinate and delegate Commission ; being sent of Christ , as He was sent of his Father , Io . 20. 2. Cor . 5. & hauing the word of Reconciliation committed vnto them .

In the wordes I obserue , first , their Commission ; I haue set thee vp . Secondly , the Extent , and latitude of their Iurisdiction ; aboue Nations , aboue Kingdomes . Thirdly , their Worke ; and that is twofold ; ad Destructionem : ad Aedificationem , to plucke vp , to root out , &c. to plant , and to build . In other things , Facilius est destruere , quàm astruere ; yet where Sinne is the subiect wee worke vpon , it is so incorporate into the nature of man , that it is farre greater difficultie , to pluck vp , and root out , then to plant ; and to destroy , & overthrow , then to build . Therefore the Spirit of God mentioneth quatuor Tristia : duo Laeta ; foure Destroying , but onely two Edifying Metaphors . Lastly , I obserue , that the true and only End of plucking vp , and rooting out , is planting ; the End of overthrowing , and destroying , is Building .

The Commission is Authenticall , rooted in Heaven Ego constitui , and grounded vpon Gods Ordination . The Extent & latitude , is large and ample : no Estate , no Dignitie , no Super Nationes & Regna , Throne , no Crowne , no Scepter , no Diadem exempt from it . The worke is powerfull on both sides : I had almost said Omnipotent ; for , Habet quandam Omnipotentiam , Vt evellas , extirpes , non ex Spiritu nostro , sed ex Spiritu , qui est in Spiritu nostro ; The word of God , in the mouth of his basest servants , hath in it a kinde of Omnipotentie , not by any vertue that is in them , but by the power of that Spirit that worketh in them . The End is full of Grace , and of Favour . Vt plantes , adifices .

First , I meet with a note of observation , set ( as it were ) in the very Front , and Forehead of my Text , [ Vide ] [ See ] to this end , that , Qui Manus ad Clavum , & Oculos , ad Coelum , He which sits at the Sterne , either of Civil , or Ecclesiasticall governement , whether He sit on the Throne , or in the Chaire , His eye must ever be fixed in Heaven , vpon the Pole by which his course must be guided , & conducted . For both in Kingdome , and in Church , Christus in Imo , Christus in Summo ; Christ is the roote , Christ is the roofe ; Christ is the beginning , Christ is the ending ; Christ is α , Christ is ο ; Christ is the foundation , Christ is the perfection of all . The Prosperitie , & Peace , the Abundance and Wealth , the Honour and Dignitie , the Stabilitie and Perpetuitie of all , stands vpon his Favour , and is vpheld by his Blessing . It is He , that must blesse vs here , it is He that must crowne vs hereafter . [ See ] we enioy the Blessing , let Him haue the Glory . From Him we haue our Constitution and Commission , Ego constitui , 1 Constitutio . I haue set thee vp : otherwise , {αβγδ} who is sufficient for these things ? What are our Earthen vessels , to hold that inestimable and heavenly Treasure ? What our vncleane Hands , to breake , and distribute that heavenly Manna ? What our leaden and drossy Pipes , to receaue , or convey that water of life ? {αβγδ} Who is sufficient for these things ? No man takes this Honour to himselfe , but he which is Heb . 5. 2 Cor . 4. called of God , as was Aaron ? The excellencie of this power it is not of Men , but it is of God .

Before I formed thee in the wombe , I knew thee , before thou camest out the wombe , I sanctified thee ; there is Electio ad salutem : I haue ordained thee to be a Prophet , and See! this Day I haue set thee vp , &c. there is Electio ad Munus ; chosen to salvation before eternity , called to the Office of a Prophet this Day . These do not alwaies concurre in one subiect ; but where they meet , a thousand thousand Blessings accompany that constitution , & a thousand thousand times blessed is he , that is chosen of God both to saue himselfe , and to saue others .

Dei Agricultura estis , Dei Aedificium estis ; 1. Cor . 3. you are God's Husbandry , you are God's Building . Chrys . in 1. ad Cor . 3. Ager , Mundus ; Aedificium , Fideles ; The world is his Field , the Faithfull are his Building . Ager Chrys . Ibid . non est Agricolae , sed Patrisfamiliâs , Aedificium non est Architecti , sed Domini : The field is not the Husbandmans , but the owners , the Building is not the workemans , but the Lords . In this Husbandry there is not a fit labourer , that is not sent of God into his Harvest , Mat . 9. In this Building there is not a meete workeman , which is not inspired from Heaven , as was Aholiah and Bezaleel , Exod . 31. He which buildes and he which plants , hee which plucks vp , and hee which rootes out is nothing , but Hee which giues the Blessing Cern . de Consid . ad Eug . l 2. and encrease , Hee is all in all . Rusticani Sudor is Schemate quodam , labor spiritualis expressus est : The worke of a Prophet is illustrated by resemblance with the toyle of an Husbandman , and the whole comparison is meerely Tropicall , Figuratiue , & Metaphoricall . Dried . de Reg . & Dog Sacr . Script. l. 3. c . 4. Nulla est excusatio , carnaliter interpretanti , in huiusmodi loquutionibus Tropicis : It is an absurditie beyond absurditie , to make literall interpretation of Figuratiue and Metaphoricall Speeches . Nay it is an Impietie beyond Impietie , to change the elegant resemblances , which the Spirit of God vseth in the Scripture , to Actuall and Reall , and bloody Executions of vniust and vsurped Tyranny . Certainely God never sent forth his Prophets , as Incendiaries , & Assasinates , with Fire and Sword , with Poyson & Gunpowder , to pluck vp , to root out , to destroy , to overthrow : He sent them that the world might be saved , but not ruinated by them .

The rule is generall , Quicquid in Scriptur is Sacris Dried vt suprd . asperum , saevum , crudele sonat , & commendatur à Sanctis factum , aut iubetur vt faciant , non ad literam , sed ad cupiditatis Regnum , & vincendos animae Hostes intelligitur esse scriptum . Whatsoever in the Scriptures is commanded or commended in the Saints , and savoreth of violence , asperitie , crueltie , it is not Literally , but Figuratiuely to be vnderstood and executed .

If you demand , Qui Vectes ? quae Ferramenta ? with what tooles , and with what Engins He performes so glorious a worke ? They are set in the words next before my Text , Behold , I haue put my word in thy V. 9. mouth ; a worde sharper then a two-edged Sword , which enters and divides , and woundes , and kils ; but , Culpas non Homines ; It kils Sinne , but it saues men . To Ferus in Io . 18. this worke he hath set apart Esay , and Ieremy , not Zenacherib , not Nabuchadnezar , not Antiochus ; Peter & Paule , not Herod and Nero ; Augustine , Ambrose , & the Holy Fathers , not Domitian , and Iulian , bloody Emperors ; Luther , Caluin , & many worthies in his Church , not Hildebrand , Iulius , Boniface , Pius , Sixtus , & the rest of that rabble . Those pluckt vp , & rooted out , Gladio oris , with the Sword of their Lippes ; these destroy , overthrow , murder , massacre , Ore Gladij , with the dint and edge of the Sword . Thus , Imperiale fit Papale , Spirituale fit Temporale ; the Imperiall right is made Papall , and the Spirituall Ministery is changed into open & professed Tyranny . But Quis constituit ? whence haue they their Ordination ? from whom can they challenge their Commission ?

They are set vp , Super Nationes & Regna , aboue 2. Iurisdictio . Nations , aboue Kingdomes . An ample & a large Iurisdiction ! Bern . de Consid . lib . 2. but Ministerium impositum est , non Dominium datum ; I see a dutie and a charge laid vpon vs , which we must exercise , I see no Soveraigntie , no Dominion given vnto vs that we should execute . Qui ad Episcopatum Orig in Es. 6. vocatur , ad Servitutem vocatur , non ad Dominium Ecclesiae ; He that is called to the office of a Prophet , is called to serue , and minister , not to rule and domineere in the Church . I read , that their Sound , I find not , that their Sword , should go through the world . It is true , there is no Privilege , there is no Exemption , there is no Throne , there is no Crowne , there is no Scepter , there is no Diadem , that is not subiect to this glorious Ministration . Wee may not feare the faces of mortall men : Saule must heare of his witchcrafts , David of his adultery , Ahab of Naboth's vineyard , Herod of his brother Philip's wife ; Israel must heare of her Sinnes , Iudah of her Transgressions , Samaria of her Idolatries , Ierusalem of her Abominations . And if here we could beare rule , and domineere , and offer force , and vse violence , and beat downe sin , and cry out against iniquitie , till their eares tingle , & their Hearts tremble in the midst of their Bowels , we doe nothing but our duties . For this cause are wee set over Nations , over Kingdomes : Herein is our true honour , herein our true Preeminence . Which hath caused the ancient and holy Fathers so often to extoll the dignitie of their Ministery , and sometimes , not to compare only , but to preferre it before and aboue the highest earthly Soueraigntie . Imperium ipsi Naz in orat . ad Cives & Prin . cipem irascentem . quoque gerimus , addo etiam praestantius ac perfectius ; vos enim , potestati meae meisque subsellijs Lex Christi subiecit : spoken in the presence , and to the person of an Emrour . We also haue our authoritie , & that more perfect , and more glorious then your Soveraigntie ; for even your Maiestie hath the law of Christ subiected to our Pulpit . It is to our Pulpit , not to our Tribunal ; where wee may reproue , not chastise , reprehend , not punish , depresse , not depose : to vs your Soules , to you our Bodies are committed ; into our Handes the Keyes , into your Handes the Sworde is delivered ; wee must denounce , you must execute , God's Iudgements ; wee can shut out of Heaven , you may root out of the earth . God hath set his servants over Nations , & Kingdomes , as He set Ionas over Niniveh , vt euersi in malo aedificarentur in Bono ; that their sinnes might be pluckt vp , & rooted out , their estate established , the sentence denounced against them reversed , their Ruine & Destruction prevented , their Pardon and Peace procured . God hath not set them , as he set Salmanazar , Zenacherib , Nabuchadnezar , over Israel and Iudah , as his whips and scourges , or rather as his Sword & Executioners ; vt Aedificati in malo everterentur in toto , that when their sinnes were ripe , they should draw the line of emptinesse over them , and chaine their Kings , and fetter their Nobles , and ruinate their estates , and dispose of their kingdomes . We may , nay we must , denounce God's iudgments , but the sword , which must execute them , Hee hath put into another's Hand . If our Saviour demaunde Quis me Iudicem ? who hath made me a Iudge over Luk , 12. you ? and would not end a Controversie , that was brought vnto Him : may not we lawfully aske , Quis vos Principes ? who hath made you Princes ? nay more then Princes ? to dispose of the estates , of all , yea Lawfull , Anointed , and Soveraigne Princes ?

Their Work is to pluck vp and to root out , to destroy , 3. Opus . Bern . vt sup . to overthrow . True ! but , Disce sarculo opus esse , non sceptro , vt facias opus Prophetae : See , a Sheepehooke , not a Scepter , a weeding hooke , not a Sword , is the Instrument that fits the Hand , and agrees with the worke of a Prophet . Cum audis Regna & Nationes , noli Carnaliter intelligere , sed cogita Animas Regnatas à Peccato ; delicta , cogita , quae evellenda & suffodienda , à Orig . in Hier . 1 Orig . Ibid . sermonibus Dei : when you heare of Nations and of Kingdomes , and of plucking vp , and rooting out , dreame not of earthly kingdoms ; but remember , Satan hath a kingdome within you , and sinne hath gotten Dominion over you ; follow , pursue , kill , mortifie these enimies , pluck vp , root out , destroy , overthrow this Kingdome . This is a true Propheticall , Evangelicall work , which cannot be destitute , either of a Blessing here , or a reward hereafter . There was a time , wherein God promised , and in his due time Hee performed it ; Men shall turne their swordes into sithes , and their Es. 2. Es. 11. Speares into Mattockes , and there shall none hurt nor destroy in all the mountaine of my Holynesse . There was never time wherein Satan practised it not , in these our times hee hath effected it ; men haue turned their Sithes into Swords , & their Mattockes into Speares , and with Iulius the second , their Miters , into Helmets , and the Keyes of Peter , into the Sword of Paule . There is now nothing , but Blood & Slaughter , but Stabbings and Poysonings , and Fire , and Gun-powder , but Deposing & Ruinating . And vbique Religio praetenditur , vbi omnia , & Humana et Divina violantur , and when all the Lawes both of God and Man are violated , Religion must cover all , & the Censure of the Church must warrant all . We haue seene with our Eies , the most woful and dysastrous effects and fruits of this Doctrine the sunne ever looked vpon . You cannot but remember them ; I take no pleasure to repeate them . God hath set Bounds and limits , vnto all Authority ; the Authority of the Church is confined , to the Courts of Conscience , not extended , to the Courtes of Iustice . The worke of a Prophet is appropriated to the rooting out of sin , not improved to the ruinating of Kingdomes . And this is the end and perfection of all , so to plucke vp and roote out , that we plant , so to destroy & overthrow , that we build .

This is indeed the Proper and Naturall worke of 4. Finis . God's Ministers ; to plucke vp , and to roote out , is Accidentall and forced vpon them , to plant and to build , is Essentiall to their Office , & affected by them . That is their Hope , and their Ioy and their Crowne of reioicing , in the Day of the Lord IESVS . Suprema lex salus Ecclesiae ; The fundamentall Law of the Church and the most glorious worke of the sacred Ministery never reached to the Bodies , or Goods , or Liues of Men , but ever was accomplished in the salvation of the soules of men . It is the observation of Chrysostom , Saepè solet Scriptura vti verbis malis in re bona ; the spirit of God in the Scriptures , often vseth sharpe , displeasing , and destructiue phrases , where yet it intends to produce Blessed , Gracious , and vital effects . Ignis , Gladius , verba mala sunt ; Fire , Sword , are words cloathed with Terror , and vsually Instruments of Death . But the Fire that came downe from Heaven , & sate on the Apostles , illuminat , non incendit , enlightens , scortches not , inflames , burnes not , purges , but consumes not . The sword , which God hath put into the Hands , into the Mouthes rather , of his Prophets , vomicam incidere potest , may launce and open the Impostumation , which hath beene long breeding in vs , cuts , but hurts not , heales , but endangers not . God authorizing his servants to wound , but so that they might heale againe , to kill , but so that they might quicken againe , to plucke vp and roote out , but so that they might plant againe , to destroy , and overthrow , but so that they might build againe .

Of the plucking vp and rooting out of our Adversaries the world hath had long and wofull experience , the Turks , and Infidels haue made their advantage , the Church hath felt the smart , and all Christendome to this day groanes vnder the weight & burden of it . If you seeke for their Plantings and Buildings , you must saile to the Indies , and search into remote , barbarous , and vnknowne Lands ; it may be in the passage you may heare , of fruitfull Plantations & of glorious Buildings , and of strange Miracles , and of wonderfull conversions ; but in the end , you shal find , and see , their Plantations haue beene watered with Blood , the Foundations of their Buildings laid in Blood , in the Blood of innumerable thousands , of poore and naked Innocents ; themselues being witnesses Acosta . Barthol . Casa . &c. against themselues , and their owne Iesuites deploring and detesting their more then inhumane & Divellish Cruelty .

Thus haue I posted over the words of my Text , that you may perceiue we detract nothing from the authoritie of a Prophet . His constitution is from God . We exempt no man from their lawfull Iurisdiction ; they are set vp , super Nationes , super Regna , aboue Nations , aboue Kingdomes . Wee acknowledge their worke powerfull , to plucke vp , root out , &c. but , In Criminibus , Bern . ad Eug . l. 2. non in Possessionibus Potestas ista , this power is exercised in extirpation of sinnes , not in extermination of Kingdomes ; & , Linguâ , non Manu , Ore , non Gladio , Precibus , non Armis ; It must be executed with Espencaeus . our Tongues , not with our Hands , with our Words , nor with our Swordes , with our Prayers , not with our weapons . Lastly , we yeeld double , and treble honour to those , which so roote out , that still they may plant ; which so destroy , that yet they may still build vp .

O how easily , & how amply could I here discourse of the Kingdome of CHRIST JESVS ! of his many victories , and his glorious Triumphs ! all atchieued , Non alijs Armis ; quàm clangente Evangelij Buccinâ , sonante Apostolorum Doctrinâ , with no other weapons , but by the sound of his Gospell , and the foolishnesse of the preaching of his Apostles . Thus , thus hath it pleased him to raze downe the wals of Iericho ! Thus , thus hath hee built vp the walls of his Beloued Ierusalem ! Thus hath he planted his faith , overcome the world , subdued Nations , conquered Kingdomes , and spread his Dominion from Sea to Sea , and from the River vnto the ends of the world !

If I haue but touched , where I should haue enlarged , and haue digressed from the Observations my Text naturally affordeth ; that which the Apostle vseth as his iust Apologie , Vos coegistis , you haue enforced me ; I trust with your Favours it may bee accepted as a faire excuse , Illi coegerunt , our Adversaries haue compelled me . For it is not easie , nay it is impossible , for a true man , alwaies to keep the Kings high way , especially if he be driuen to follow Hue and Cry after Theeues and Murderers . I am now in this pursuit ; I find God to be dishonoured , his Scriptures adulterated , the peace of his Church disturbed , the soules of men bewitched , our estate endangered , tyranny vsurped : if I cannot yeeld remedy , I cannot but giue warning . It is not now a question disputed , but a case resolued , if the PRINCE fall from God , the people must fall from him , they may , nay they must resist & take Armes ; Principes iam inauguratos & consecratos Andreae Philopat . Resp . ad Edictum . Regnique potitos deturbare possunt , imò debent & tenentur facere , si vires suppetant , idque in extremo animarum periculo , ac discrimine . And if these resolutions bee growne into practises & executions , so that we cannot liue amongst these men without danger , surely they should not liue amongest vs in such iollity , in such security . Caput iniquitat is tenetist a iniquitas ; this is an abomination aboue all abominations . Religion must couer all and these very words of my Text must warrant all ! By this and such like , Catholike men are warranted , that they be no Traytors , nor hold positions Allen in his answer to the Execution of iustice . treasonable , false and vndutiful , in answering , or beleeuing that for heresie , and such like notorious wickednes , a Prince otherwise lawfull and anointed , may be excommunicated , forsaken , resisted , by warrant of holie Churches iudgment , and censure .

I omit the writings of priuate men , though their Bookes are full of it ; I find it in their Lawes , in their Bulls , in their Publike & authenticall Instruments , the monster of their more then supreame Supremacy , all their vnheard-of vsurpation , and tyranny ouer Princes , Kingdomes , the estate and liues of lawfull and annointed Kings , grounded vpon this Tropicall , Figuratiue , and Metaphoricall foundation ! See , I haue this day set thee vp , &c. In their well known and Extran . Bonis . 8 de Minor●t . & Obedient . often mentioned Canon , Vnam sanctam ; Ecclesiastica potestas Terrenam habet instituere , & Iudicare : sic verificatur Vaticinium Hieremiae ; Ecce , ego constitui . In the Bull of Paulus tertius against HENRY the 8. Praecipuum super omnes Reges vniuersae Terrae , cunctosque populos , obtinentes Principatum , iuxta Hieremiae vaticinium , Ecce ego constitui te , &c. Regem Henricum Regno priuamus , &c. Hauing obtained chiefe principality , ouer all 〈…〉 the Kings of the whole earth , and ouer all nations , according to the Prophecy of Ieremy , See , this day I haue set thee vp , &c. We depose King HENRY of this kingdome , and him and all his fauourers doe Wee smite with the sword of accursing , excommunication , & eternall damnation ; his subiects we absolue from their Oath of Allegiance , and all subiection to their King , and besides we exhort and require them to take Armes , and in all hostile maner to pursue them . By the way it is not vnworthy the obseruation ; that in the next immediately following chapter there is Institutio & confirmatio Societatis nomio is Iesu , that they might haue new & pestilent instruments , to vphold their new challenge and prodigious Practise . In the Bull of Pius quintus , against Q. ELIZABETH , of famous and euer blessed memory ; Regnans in excelsis , vnum Romanum Pontificem Illius authoritate suffulti qui n●s in hoc supremo Iustitiae Throno collecauit ; Elizabet . praetenso iure Regni , nec non omni & quccunque Dominio , dignitate , & priuilegio priuation priuamus , itemque proceres subditos & populos docti Regni â iura ento fidelitatis omniqua Dominij & obsequij Debito absolutos absol●imus . Apoc . 13. super omnes Gentes & omnia Regna Principem constituit , qui euellat , destruat , disperdat , dissipet , &c. He that raigneth in the highest Heauens , hath constituted the one onely Pope of Rome , a Prince ouer all nations , and all kingdomes , to plucke vp , to root out , &c. Armed by his authority , who hath placed vs in this supreame Throne of Iustice , we depriue ELIZABETH of her pretended right to the Kingdome , and of all Soueraignty , Dignity , and Preeminence , and discharge her Nobles and Subiects from their oath of Allegiance , and obedience due vnto Her .

Heare you not the Beast in the Revelation , Loquentem magnalia , speaking great things , and vttering Blasphemies against God , and against Heauen ? challenging power ouer Kindreds , and Tongues , and Nations ? Let them whose names are not written in the book of life worship him . The French haue prooued that these are but Bruta Fulmina , Brutish Thunderbolts ; The Venetians , that this is but Ignis fatuus , a false fire ; God hath proued vnto vs , that they are Blessings , and not curses : for where they haue cursed most , he hath blest most . Blessed be his name for euer , and for euer !

I cannot prosecute euery particular ; I would draw all vnto an head , & yeeld vnto the Church , whatsoeuer she may iustly challenge , & suppose ( that which they can neuer proue , wee may neuer grant ) that all authority of this Church is in the Sea , and Pope of Rome : yet can it neuer be stretched or tentered , to the discharging of subiects from their Allegeance , or deposing of Princes , from their Dignities . I will not deny , but that these words , to plucke vp , to roote out , to build , and to plant , may bee parralell , to binding and loosing in the Gospell ; and that by these and such like the CHVRCH may lawfully challenge Authority , yea ouer Nations and Kingdomes , to foretell , and threaten , and denounce Gods iudgments , But God hath made a Distinction , betwixt the Sword and the Keyes , and hath set a separation betwixt the Prince , and the Priest . Insomuch that the Prince cannot snatch the Keyes , out of the hand of the Priest , without open sacriledge : the Priest may not wrest the sword , out of the hand of the Prince , without manifest impiety and vniust vsurpation . Therefore my Conclusion is , that ,

And here we must obserue ; first , that wee suppose Darknesse to be Light , and Falsehood to be Truth , and Vsurpation to be Iustice , and Tyranny to bee Equity ; for al this , and much more then this , they must suppose , which suppose the Excommunications of the Pope , to be Iust and Lawfull . Secondly , that I speake of Lawfull and Annointed Kings , I meddle not with Intruders and Vsurpers . Thirdly , that wee deny not , but Princes by Heresie , by Idolatry , by Apostacy , by other Notorious Crimes , may deserue to be Censured : and in this case , we may & must tell them , that these sinnes are Pernicious to their soules , and Perillous to their Estates ; yet is it God alone , and no man on the Earth , that can make them for feytures of their Kingdomes . Fourthly , that we exempt not Kings , from the iust censure and reprehension of the Church . Wee honour the Courage and resolution of Ambrose , wee admire the moderation & submission of Theodosius : though we doubt whether we may imitate the one , or expect the other ; but we abhor the partiality of the Pope , who will exempt himselfe , where he subiects Princes . Nauarrus enquires , Quis possit excommunicari ? Nauarrus Manual c . 27. de Censuris . and resolues , He must be Homo , Mortalis , Baptizatus , habens superiorem : and therefore amongest others , there are exempt , Locusta , Infidelis , Daemon , Papa ; a Locust or noysome beast , hee is not Man ; an Infidell he is not Baptized ; the Deuil , he is not mortal ; the Pope , though an Heretique , He falls into the hands Etiamsi incidit in Haeresin , non incadit in excommunicationem Humanam , sed Diuinam . of God , he is not subiect to any humane Power . See how fitly he hath matched , & ranked his priuiledged quaternion ; I malice not their combination , I dispute not of their Exemption : but suppose all , and more then all , against which I can yet take infinite , and iust exceptions , I still hold my Conclusion . My proofes I reduce to foure heads ; 1. The Prerogatiue Royall of a KING , 2. The Duty indispensable of a Subiect ; 3. The Continuall Practise of the CHVRCH ; 4. The Nature , Effects , Limitations , and End of Excommunication .

The very name of a Lawfull and Anointed KING Regis Praerogatiua . Etiamsi Apostolus , etiamsi Propheta . Nec simpliciter di cit , Obediat , sed subiect● sit . Chrys . in Ro . 13. is sacred , his Authoritie soueraigne , his Person inuiolable . Maior erit , quam cui possit Censuran●cere . Euerie soule must be subiect vnto Him , though he be an Evangelist , though an Apostle , though a Prophet , not Obedient only , but subiect : yea and that Paul a Blessed Apostle , to Nero a Monster of Men , and a bloody persecutor . No man may stir an Hand or a Foot without him : if he bid saue , they saue , if hee bid kill they kill , ipse solutus Legibus , himselfe exempted from his lawes , nor from the Direction , and Observance of them , but from the Punishment and penalty of them ; {αβγδ} . It is a speech , and an Act worthiest an Emperour , to oblige and binde himselfe to his lawes : it is a speech & practise vnfitting the authority of any earthly power to say , if hee transgresse I will chastice him . It was once the language of the Church . Wee adore the Emperour Tert . ad Scapulam . as a man , next vnto God , and inferiour to none but him alone . It was once the stile of the Pope , Ego indignus Maiestatis vestrae Famulus , I the vnworthy Creg . ad Mauritium . seruant of your Maiestie . It was once & is still , the prerogatiue of a KING , Nullis vocatur Ambr in Apol . Dauid . ad poenam Legibus ; tutus Imperij potestate : There is no Tribunall , to which he may be cited ; no law by which he may be punished . He is secured by the preeminence of his Soueraignety : Who can lay his hand vpon Gods annointed , and be innocent ? Who can ? No man , Because God hath planted him aboue 1. Sam . 26. Quis ; Nullus ; quia Deus fecis eum superiorem omnibus : & nulli praestitit authoritatem super ipsum . Deus solus vltor est iniquitatum eius , vnde Dauid : Indicet Deus inter Te & Me . Abul . in locum . 1. Sam . 24. all men , and hath giuen no man autority to punish Him ; God alone will take vengeance on his sinnes . Therfore Dauid , when Saul hunted after his innocent soul , as after a prey , yet could appeale neither to Iudge , nor to High Priest , but to God alone , let God be iudge between thee and betweene me . Dauid , when he confessed his sinne , forgot not his Preeminence ; To thee , Thee only haue I sinned . I haue sinned ; An ingenuous confession which obtained a gracious pardon ; The Lord hath put away thy sin . To thee , a necessary exaggeration , no man sees , or truly sorrowes for the heinousnes of his sin , without a true apprehension of that glorious Maiesty , which he hath offended in sinning . But To thee , Thee onely ; in his lowest submission to God , remembring his high Preeminence aboue men . I doubt not but Dauid sinned against Bethsabee , and that a grieuous and an vncleane sinne ; against Vriah , and that a bloody , and a crying sinne , against the Child of adulterie , and that a deadly , and a killing sin , against his kingdome , & that a ruinating , and demolishing sin ; against his owne soule , and that a fearefull and a pernicious sinne . In istos peccauit ; Deo soli Peccauit : Against all those he sinned , but To God onely . They might complaine and Accuse and Testifie against him ; but God alone , was to Iudge , to Condemne , to Punish Peccamus in illos quibus inturtam inf●rimus peccamus illi , qui in sua pecatate habet , vel dimittere , vel vltionem de co sumere . him ; Tibi peccaui , longè aliud est quam in te Peccaui : we sinne against them whom wee wrong by sinning ; wee sin to him , who can remit or punish , who can pardon or bee Reuenged for our wrong , Rexerat , ita vt nullius subiaceret Iudicio ; he was a KING , therefore To God onely , he sinned before whose Tribunall onely hee was to appeare , and from whose mouth onely , hee Titlem . in Psal . 51. was to receiue his iudgement .

What then ? Doe we exempt KINGS from the obseruation of the Lawes of GOD ? No , wee binde them rather with a double bond , Quâ Reges , Quâ homines ; as they are Men , & haue soules to be saued , as they are KINGS , and haue Thrones to be established . And herein are wee set ouer them , to plucke vp and to roote out , to reproue , to correct , to proclaime to the terror of their soules , though not to the losse of their Kingdomes . Eò terribilius puniendi , quò possunt peccare liberiùs : the greater their Exemption here , the more fearefull their Iudgement hereafter ; the ampler their Priuiledge here , the more intolerable their Plagues hereafter . They may escape the hands of Men : if they continue in their sinnes ; they shall not escape the hands of God neither aliue nor dead . But the Laws of God , of Nature , of Nations , of the Church , of free Monarchies , the Lawes Imperiall , all Priuiledge and Exempt them ; they cannot be deposed by the sentence , they may not bee depriued by the force of any Mortall Man . Therfore suppose in some causes they might be Excommunicated , which I yeeld not , in any ; yet in no case hath Excommunication that force , to depose them . Reges sunt , They are KINGS .

They are KINGS , we are Subiects , bound in a bond , & Vinculum Subditorum . obligation , which exceeds al other Bonds , & cancels al other obligations . A Son vnto his Father , a Wife vnto her husband , a Seruant vnto his Master , an Homager vnto his Lord , an Inferiour to his Superiour , Nature , Sense , Reason , Humanitie , Christianitie , Divinitie binds them to Obedience , with a Bond which cannot bee broken : but the Bond of Allegiance to our KING containes them all , exceeds them al. Is HEE not a Father , an Husband , a Master , a Lord , nay as GOD vnto his subiects ? Was not Moses , Aarons God , a God to the High Priest , and to the Father of the Priesthood . No warrant can I then find from Heauen ; no dispensation vpon the Earth , that can iustifie , or excuse the least Disobedience . It may bee that a Prince is iniurious to his Subiects : Omnis illegitima defensio Filij aduersus Patrem ; Is he worthy the name of a Sonne , that will enter an action of Trespasse against his Father ? It may be his yoke is heavy , and his loines burdenous ; Ferendo & patiendo , lenienda Iniuria est ; Patience , and toleration , is the best lenitiue , and the readiest remedie . It may be he is irreligious and would draw others after him : Religio defendenda est moriendo , non occidendo , patientiâ , Lact . non Saevitiâ , non scelere , sed Fide ; Religion is to be maintained , by dying our selues for it , not by murdering others for it , by patience , not by fury , by loyalty , not by rebellion . It may bee hee is a Tyraunt and bloody : but Inde Imperator , vndè homo Tertul . Apol . antequàm Imperator , inde potestas vnde Spiritus , He made him a King , which made him a Man ; and he receaved his authoritie from him , from whom he receaued his breath . Saeuiat , Laniet , Nubecula est , citò transibit . Let him rage , kill , Massacre , hee is but a storme , sent of God to chastise his children , expect but Gods leasure , he will soone vanish , and God will send a calme againe : as he speakes in Tacitus ; Non M. Teren . apud Tacitum . est nostrum aestimare quem supra ceteros , & quibus de causis extollas ; nobis obsequij glorîa relicta est . God sets vp whom pleases him ; our Vertue , our Dutie , our Glory consists in our Obedience , not for feare only , but for conscience , not {αβγδ} , to our gratious Luk . 22. 1. Pet . 2. Lords , but even {αβγδ} , those whom hee hath set to be whippes & scourges over vs. Are wee then bound to obey them in all things ? and to say , as the Israelites did to Ioshuah , All that thou commandest we wil doe ? No ; for there may be a time , wherein wee must say rather with the Apostles ; It is better to obey God , then to obey Men . And if there be an opposition between the will Act. 4. of GOD , and the commandement of the KING : then we must craue pardon ; Da veniam Imperator , Tu Carcerem , Ille Gehennam . But in al cases , yea of profest Heresie , Aug. de verb . Apost . 5 , 6. yea of open Idolatry , yea of manifest Apostasie , our tongues are bound , we may not speak evil of them ; our very thoughts bound , we may not conspire against them ; our hands bound , we may not so much as lift vp our little finger against them . In all cases , Erubescit Ecclesia , Hostiens . de Excommunicat . Filios fieri Castigatores Parentum ; The Church hath ever shamed to make the Sonnes correctors of their Parents : and Gladium dare in manus Filij , ad trucidandum Biel . in Canon . Miss . l. 26. Patrem , membri ad concidendum corpus , Nefas est , & insanum ; to put a sword into the hand of a Sonne to kill his Father , of a member to wound his own head , or stab into his own heart , it is more then Impietie , more then madnesse . The Sonne vnto the Father , the Wife vnto the Husband , the Servant vnto his Pater Filio , vxor marito . Servus Domino , Monachus Abbati , Sacerdos Episcopo , tenetur obedire etiam Excommunicato . Dried . de libert . Christian . l. 2. c . 8. Master , the Monke vnto his Abbot , the Priest vnto his Bishop is bound to performe due and canonicall obedience , notwithstanding any sentence of excommunication . Are all these bound , and may subiects be discharged ? GOD hath directly commanded Obedience , and subiection ; therefore no man directly or indirectly , absolutely or respectiuely , by temporal iurisdiction , or in Ordine ad Spiritualia , as a Pope , or as a Prince , can iustifie the least disobedience , or warrant so much as a thought of rebellion : no dispensation can discharge the Subiect , no sentence can depose a lawfull and an anointed King . God , which is the God of order , & not of confusion , foresaw in his wisdome , that it were better for the Minus malum praviderat ipse pacis author , Regnosuturum , si Rex immoderatiùs aliquandò impune se erga Populum gereret , quam si Populus Iudex & vltor Regiae iniquitatis pro sua libidine existeret . estates of Kingdomes , & lesse iniurious to his Church , if the insolency of a wicked King , were sometimes tolerated without controll , then that the estate of his chiefe deputy , and Lieutenant vpon the earth should be subiected to change and alteration , to deprivation , or deposing , at the pleasure and partialitie either of Priest , or of People : The one may be the cause of many disorders , the other must needes bee the Mother of perpetuall confusion .