IF the voice of ioy were not as loud as the voice of Treason , wee could not vpon this day heare the newes of our owne deliuerance . But gratitude & Maiestie command the eare ; & when the King preacheth , Attention is Loyalty . My Text is King Dauid's Sermon , and his Text is his preseruation . God saues him ; and he by an imitating thankfulnesse saues the story of God's mercy . His speech testifies his safetie ; but his confession his goodnesse : which the Lord protects and increases ; And it increases like the protection , as if by a deuout emulation it would as much requite as acknowledge the fauour . Which being aboue the faint thankes of prose , he aduances by the art and courage of a Song . His soule could no other way ascend , but by death or triumph : in which , his iust exilience is so great , that one may feare he ought after treason to feare a neerer violence from his owne ioy . Yet hee venters this gratefull trance ; as if he were content to haue a disease for his sake that had freed him from death . His Song is of deliuerance , an act by which God repeates his creation , and makes the same creature , without death , reuiue . It is the friendship of his power ; whereby he makes our safety as eminent as his loue : which by this vnfeigned Commentarie vpon our Creed , workes in vs an easie faith , that God is the Father Almightie . If we view the purchases of men we may obserue , that they , who haue laid out most labour vpon opinion of mightinesse , haue had their greatest Fame take life from Ruine , and with a lamentable happinesse made the epitaphs of nations the best annals of their immortalitie and furie . But the Almighty does not spend a creature in vnmercifull vanitie , the height of his glory being the humilitie of his compassion . And though the Iew in his grammaticall deuotion trembles more at the found then the maiestie of his name of maiestie , Iehouah ; yet God himselfe hath taught vs by a more canonicall Catechisme to pay our best adoration without precise sophistrie to his name of saluation , his best name , Iesus . And if you would see , how he delights to saue , you may with delight see his varietie of saluations . Sometimes you may see him saue an infant ; when hee must stay for thankes , till by the leisure of nature , the vnderstanding bee made as capable of the blessing , as the bodie was . Sometimes you may see him saue a mother ; & as if he would make himselfe like his owne worke , bee as tender ouer her , as she ouer her babe . Sometimes you may see him saue the mightie ; It was hee that deliuered Sampson from the captiuitie of the cordes : which he did not breake by his owne strength . The strength of his body lay in his haire : but the strength of his haire lay in his Vow ; The Nazarite was stronger then Sampson . Sometimes you may see him saue a family : It was he that prepar'd Esau for Iacob and his pilgrim-houshold ▪ Esau that before lost his birth-right , and now his malice . Nature vainly thought to make him Iacob's brother , but this was a taske , that God kept for himselfe . Sometimes you may see him saue a tribe ; It was he , that in reuenge of his abused Leuite , made Israel so ouer-act victory vpon Beniamin , that they put sixe hundred of them to a happy flight : whereby they preseru'd the tribe , and conquer'd it . They deliuered them from the Sword , by bestowing vpon them too much feare of it . Sometimes you may see him saue a nation : It was hee that led Moses as well as Israel through the Sea , which was more obedient then Pharaoh to let them goe , and hurried on each side into such reuerent tumults to get out of the way , that Israel scarce trembled more at the Aegyptian , then at their owne deliuerance . Sometimes you may see him saue a King , and then he shewes the supremacie of his mercie ; whiles hee makes him perceiue , that he is lesse then God , by making him onely lesse then God . Maiesty is a deputy-diuinity ; and to deny Royalty is ciuill Atheisme : God hauing propos'd to man the visible Godhead of a King , as his owne proportionall and lawfull image . A King is as sacred as sublime , and as great a part of God's iealousie , as of his loue . God therefore often confounds the treason , but almost alwayes the traitour . He places a King on high , to make vs vnderstand how neere he is vnto protection ; He places a King on high , to make vs vnderstand how farre hee is aboue the hand of the subiect ; which is to be employed , not to touch a King , but to defend him from being touch'd . The knee is a better subiect then the hand ; this may bee alwayes loyall , that alwayes is safe ; this may protect with a shield , that with a prayer : which the Lord doth more often preuent , then heare : the secret expedition of violence prouoking as secret an expedition of deliuerance . The deliuerance of a King is the greatest Epocha in the Chronicle of Gods mercies , and releeues the curiositie of expectation with a gratefull period . Thus though in the Eternall there be properly no distinction of times , yet there is of wonders : which most prefer themselues to obseruation , when by a courteous almightinesse they command vs to reioyce , as much as to admire , and are indulgent to our necessary ingratitude , which lookes more vpon the benefit , then on the wonder . Yet is there one degree more of deliuerance , when God makes himselfe reioyce as much as vs ; when he deliuer's a good King ; by the same act of mercie protecting innocencie with as much ioy , as he does maiestie with indignation . He was content to deliuer Manasses ; but hee did delight to deliuer Ezechias ; the repetition of the deliuerance being the profession of the delight ; as if it had not beene enough to saue him but once , Disease laid a neerer siege vnto him then Sennacherib ; yet disease fledde like Sennacherib , who ought to haue fledde more from his owne blasphemy , then from the Angel . Against the Assyrian an Angel was made a souldier ; but against death God himselfe came to the rescue . And yet has honorable mercy no higher degree to bestow vpon a superlatiue friend , vpon God's Dauid ? Yes . God did visit others , but liu'd with him . He was with him when he tore the Lion , as the Lion would haue torne the Lambe , making the destruction as famous as the strength . He prouided the peeble for his sling ; whose actiue preuention gaue not the Philistine the respite of feare or anger ; but making his strength , as vaine as it was great , with triumph committed him to death and scorne . Now these were Dauid's deliuerances , when he was a sheepheard ; ( yet when God was his sheepheard ) but will you see his protections in his royalty , as illustrious , as his royaltie ? So peraduenture we may find out , among his many traitours , his violent man , from whom hee had equall glorie and feare . If wee looke vpon Abner , wee may obserue more power , then violence . Strengthned he was with Saul's armie and sonne : but an easie quarrell betweene him and his Lord bestowed him vpon Dauid : who receiuing at once peace and strength from his enemy , by a rare felicity saw his danger made his safety , And thus we haue not yet found out Dauid's violent man . If wee looke vpon Absalom , wee may obserue more subtilty , then violence . Arm'd hee was with Achitophel , against whose wisdome Dauid had nothing equall , but his innocence , which inuited God's mercy to such reuenge , that by a compendious iustice it made the wise traitour become his owne executioner , and vaine Absalom was onely happie by being aduanc'd to a deliberate destruction ; And thus wee haue not yet sound out Dauids violent man . If wee looke vpon Sheba the sonne of Bichri , wee may obserue more vanitie , then violence . Hee fought more with the trumpet , then the sword ; and raising rather a tumult , then a rebellion , almost as soone lost his head , as his loyaltie . And thus wee haue not as yet found out Dauids violent man . Wee will not looke vpon Adoniah , and yet he was a goodly person ; in whom wee may obserue more desire , then violence . But notwithstanding if wee would looke vpon him , hee will take sanctuarie before wee can see him ; and from the hornes of the altar make his pardon as soone knowne as his offence . And thus wee haue not as yet found out Dauids violent man . But if we will looke backe in storie , wee shall finde an enemie of Dauids before all these both in time and furie . Wee shall behold Saul beginning a persecution with his owne hand , which throwes a iauelin at him ; but it is guided by a better hand to a mercifull errour . Wee shall behold him sending messengers to kill him in the morning ; as if they expected the light only to guide them to the certaintie of the execution ; least peraduenture by an vnpardonable mistake they should commit a lesse villanie . But Dauids wife by a better light foreseeing the intent , shewes that the night is as conuenient for an escape as for a murder , and letting him downe at a windowe makes the same darknesse conceale their treacherie ; and delude it . Wee shall behold Saul himselfe hunting after him , as if hee would driue him out of his countrie and wits : but Dauid in the extremitie of wit and banishment disguises himselfe in a safe madnesse , making it the best vse of his reason to seeme to haue lost the vse of his reason . Wee shall behold this violent man driuing him againe after his returne , into caues and deserts ; by a new crueltie banishing him thus in his owne countrie . We shall behold him at last so out-runne his owne furie and companie that he is left alone to his mercie , whom hee teaches to be vnmercifull . Wee shall see him become rather Dauids armour-bearer , then his enemie , losing vnto him the speare , that hee hunts him with ; arming him thus at once with the opportunitie and instrument of reuenge . And might not Dauid at this rare leisure of affliction iustly cry out vnto violent Saul , Saul , Saul , why persecutest thou me ? Thus haue you seene Dauids violent man : but now will you see his violent God ? Behold the art of diuine vengeance ! The losse of Saul's life must not cost Dauid the losse of his innocence . Hee has for a long time persecuted Dauid , and now hee returnes to persecute himselfe . Dauid found a wildernesse to hide himselfe from Saul ; but Saul can finde no wildernesse to hide himselfe from himselfe . His owne feare and his sword quickly dispatch him . It had beene too much glorie to fall by the riotorious hand of Dauid ; it had beene too much content to fall by the commanded hand of his owne seruant . Dauid was reueng'd , when Saul was slaine : but God was reueng'd when Saul slew himselfe . The heart of the King is in the hand of God ; and is not the hand of the King in the hand of God ? Saul fell by his owne hand , and by Gods ; His owne hand acts the murder , but God's the reuenge . Thus God deliuers Dauid from Saul by Saul . A deliuerance almost as admirable for the instrument , as for the Authour . You see then what God has done for Dauid , now heare what Dauid will doe for God . And I may iustly bid you heare , because hee will giue thankes vnto the Lord ; because hee does giue thankes vnto the Lord . Hee does giue thankes , whiles hee does promise them , & whiles he confesses his debt , he payes it . Which payment by words is not more easie then true ; it being a gift which accompanied a blessing , & is one . God neuer giues vnto a good man a single blessing , but at the same time makes him both happy and gracefull . And it is societie of blessings our vnderstanding may obserue in those creatures that are without vnderstanding : each good tree giuing thankes for his goodnesse by his fruitfulnesse . Goodnesse is the looking glasse , and gratitude the reflexion ; whereby the Creatour beholds and applaudes his owne worke . Which worke was in Dauid so vnfainedly exact , that God's goodnesse seem'd to bee reflected with as much similitude as delight ; and with as much expedition as similitude . God deliuers him from death , and straight hee deliuers himselfe from ingratitude . He does not giue thanks vnto his speare , or rather vnto Saul's speare : which hee vsed not vnto victorie , yet vnto triumph . His happinesse made Saul his captiue , but his mercie did onely take his speare captiue . The speare in holy reuerence did not touch Saul ; but the dutifull mercie gaue him a loyall wound . Hee does not giue thankes to the swiftnesse of his beast , which might make his flight more speedy then his danger . We know of no horse hee had , but his feare . Hee does not giue thankes vnto his sword . He fled without one , till hee came to Ahimelech the Priest ; of whom hee was faine to borrow one that was his one , the sword , which hee formerly wonne from Goliah . Yet Dauid did no more hurt to Saul with it , then Goliah did to Dauid with it . Hee does not giue thankes vnto his wit ; which without strength may put a man in hope , but seldome in safetie . He does giue thankes vnto the Lord , that in his flight affoorded him direction and defence ; and hee delights to disgrace himselfe to thankfulnesse , whiles he makes himselfe no more part of the deliuerance , then the argument . If some politique Discourser were to censure this businesse , hee would inuade it with the licence of phansie ; and deliuer vnto vs a new story of the same actions , making Dauid as great a Politician as himselfe . He would tell vs of his courtship with Ahimelech , by whom he was both sed and arm'd : He would tell vs of his iudicious and wel-expressed madnesse before Achish the King of Gath : He would tell vs of his foure hundred Bankcrupts and discontents , whole despaire he raised into courage , by making himselfe Captaine ouer them at Adullam : He would tell vs how hee wrought vpon the King by nothing vpon his children Ionathan and Michel , making him his friend and her his wife , by whom hee made a discouerie & aduantage of the King's hate and feare : He would tell vs that hee spared Saul , not for Saul's sake , but his owne since hee might expect most certaine 〈◊〉 from the guilt , and as certaine pardon by the loyaltie : Lastly , he would draw out such a necessitie of deliuerance in all his troubles from the vnited causes , circumstances and dependances of the actions , that both the danger and the glory would be all Dauid's ; and he would tell vs that to oppose this , were to deny the principles of the great Patriarch Achitophel , and Saint Machiauel ; and thus would make God almighty so vnacquainted with the businesse , as if hee were wholy imployed about some other piece of prouidence . But Dauid's gratitude does abhorre this guiltie wisedome and hee is so farre from not rendring thankes vnto God , that he proclaimes them ; making them of as great extent as the libertie God brings him into . Hee counts it an ingratitude to prayse God without witnesse ; and he makes himselfe more thankfull , whiles hee makes others thankfull . Their silence is a part and an increase of his speech , which is pointed by the respites of their admiration . No lesse then the whole people can bee an auditor equall to Dauid's ioy ; wherein you may behold a happy contradiction of Philosophie , extending an accident beyond a subiect ; Dauid's ioy is larger then his heart , and yet his heart is larger then all the people's ; and his thankes likewise must not haue the same bounds with his Dominions . He will commit his Psalmes to fame and deuotion , which shall faithfully deliuer them vnto the Nations ; And the Nations shall reioyce to studie God in Dauid ; and God shall reioyce to heare Dauid in the Nations : and Dauid shall reioyce to fore-know the ioy of God and the Nations . This day in the Christian posteritie of the Heathen , Dauid's Prophesie is made storie ; and his Psalme is made our Psalme : whiles Dauid giues vs the words , wherewith we giue thankes for him vnto the Lord . But Dauid cannot rest content with the tame thankes of words . Hee is not made more actiue by his feare , then by his ioy ; which sometimes moues his hand vnto his Harpe , as if it would make the soule by the finger impart harmony to the instrument , and by arte not adulterate , yet multiply thankes . Sometimes it moues his whole body , which by the obedience of a deuout Daunce keepes time with the excitations of his soule : And sometimes it moues his voyce by a song , by which the soule , whiles in the body seemes to mount higher then the bodie . Dauid could not alwayes carry the pleasant burden of his Harpe with him ; but his voyce was an easie and faithfull companion . The most instructed pensill , that can expresse all passions , cannot yet expresse a voice ; but the voice by a naturall cunning can without the pensill expresse all passions . It can prolong it self into the slow not of sorrow , and teach the eare to suffer with the heart ; It can sharpen it selfe into the cleere accent of joy , and by purifying motion seeme to make the spirits of the heart as light as the soule . When we sing , we commit an innocent flattery of our selues , our owne melodie being the gratefull coozenage of our minds without abuse . But when we sing a Psalme , we chastize the errour of delight , and so please our selues , that we please God . To sing Psalmes is to preuent the joyes of Heauen ; but to sing Psalmes of prayse is to increase the joyes in Heauen . The Angels rejoyce at out godly sorrow ; how much more doe they rejoyce at our godly joy ! The Church triumphant makes vp the antheme of the Church militant . Yet all our songs doe not make God more great , but more gracious . Hee makes his prayses our blessings . Thus we can then onely with a modest and lawfull wisdome prayse our selues , when we prayse God . And this was an art , wherein Dauid was no lesse skilfull then happy : his whole life was but a blessing and a Psalme . If he kill a Lion or a Beare , hee will straight be as thankfull , as strong ; and confesse that though it were by the arme of Dauid , yet it was by the strength of God . If he kill a Gyant with the weapons of a sheepheard , he will straight confesse that God was the sheepheard , which gaue the weight & course vnto the sling-stone . If in the Wildernesse hee lie hid from Saul by the protection of a rocke , hee will straight confesse that God is the rocke ; and rather want an auditory , then a Psalme . If your deuout wit will but mixe his Psalmes with his story , you shall scarce euer find him but fighting and singing , or flying and singing , or mourning and singing , or triumphing and singing ; but you shall neuer find him in a Psalmelesse action ; as if the facultie of laughter were not more the propertie of a man , then a Psalme the property of a godly man ; and it is as easily tuned as his affections , nay , it is tuned by his affections . These made vp the quite in Dauid's soule ; and made the harmony of the soule descend to the sense by the artificiall courtesie of the voice . His voice neither knew nor desired any other song , then the learned repetition of the name of the Lord , which was his onely way of art , by which he should neuer be afraid to sing out of tune . The name of the Lord is the Grammar of his nature ; which he suffers vs to expresse rather by the alphabet , then the pensill . In this life God reueales himselfe more to our eare , then our eye ; and in the next more to our eye , then our eare . Our sight is a sense not more cleere , then bold , and as neere to idolatry , as to curiositie . God therefore more often imparts himselfe by his voice , but most often by our voice ; whiles hee permits our mouthes to bee filled with his name , as our hearts with his loue . And is there any heart or mouth more full of God , then Dauid's ? Is he not full both of his mercies and his prayses ? Were not all his deliuerances aduanced by the Chronicle and Trophie of a Psalme ? Is not Ierusalem as full of his voice , as of his victory ? And is hee not himselfe as weary , as glorious ? Now therefore this royall Prophet may raigne in peace , and now inioy his thrifty deliuerance . Deliuerance is cheape , when purchased without bloud . Sauls persecuting hand is growne as weary as his foote ; and with his life he has lost his kingdome and his furie . Absalom is no more , and has left no more of his treason , then the shame : Sheba is cut off , and has neither a head , nor a follower ; and in deliuered Ierusalem is a noise of great ioy , as free as the deliuerance : and God vouchsafes to rejoyce for his Dauid's deliuerance ; and Dauid is glad of the treason for the deliuerance . And shall so great a triumph enuy to impart it selfe beyond Ierusalem ? Or shall the noise more affect vs , then the joy ? Or shall not the happinesse be as farre extended , as the danger ? Surely without trauell wee may find as much feare and deliuerance ; we haue not onely Dauid's Psalme , but himselfe and his God . The first Dauid was persecuted to a prepared destruction ; and our second Dauid is inuited to it . The story of which is the Psalme of is And it ought to be custome , as much as conscience to repeate this comfortable state homily ; and to point out to posterius the many deliuerances in this one deliuerance which not to performe were to lose this solemnitie , or to confound it with others . You shall see violence armed with secrecie ; you shall see gold by the alchymy of treason changed into steele : You shall see a paire of brothers as firmely vnited by disloyaltie , as by nature . Yet , did I say , you should see brothers ? You shall scarce see the elder , who almost hides himselfe as cunningly as his intent ; and by the speed of diuine judgement is as soone beheld executed , as guiltie . But the younger shall present and reueale himselfe to you . You shall see his bold heate venter at once vpon maiestie and wisdome : Hee is not daunted with the name or person of a King , no , not of his owne . He is not suspitious of the circumstances of his owne plot ; But with blunt humility like his pretended affection he imparts vnto his Souereigne a Legend of a solitary man , that he met burdened with melancholy , and a pot full of coyned gold : He tell 's how hee suspected , examined , and with profitable secrecie imprisoned both ; beseeching him with a like secrecie and speed to preuent a second discouerie ; the man and gold beeing not more strangers to him , then his owne brother was as yet vnto the happinesse . The beginning of the temptation , you see , was from gold : but the mettall was better then the inuention ▪ For , what a dull thought was that , to inuite him with wealth , whom neither want nor auarice could euer seize on ? But you may be hold this temptation as easily ouercome as resisted ; and that made as low as the scorne of a King , which was as high as the desire of a traitour : who was abated by an answere not vnlike that of our Sauiour to the Deuill . The Deuill tempts him to throw himselfe downe from the pinacle ; when our Sauiour straight examines not the danger of the action , but the lawfulnesse ; telling him , it was written , Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God : And in effect thus was this tempter answered . Thou shalt not tempt thy Lord , the King . For straight it was replyed justly by the Law , and skilfully by the Law-giuer , that treasure belongs not to the King , except it bee found hid vnder the earth ; so that new treasure onely is the new subject of a King . But see the subtilty of desire ! This tempter vrges the intention of his secret man , who would haue made his gold as secret . And again behold how hee is corrected by royall modestie , and taught the difference betweene humane and diuine Majesty ! This is the judge of thoughts , but that , but of actions . But such importunitie might justly mooue the seuerest wisdome to curiositie , and search : And as the greatest vnderstanding is sometimes the cause of the greatest danger : so his Royall person could neuer haue beene perswaded into this hazard by the ill-framed Poetry of the gold ; but by his owne deepe apprehension . For knowing by inquiry both the coyne and the man to bee vnknowne , judiciously hee suspected from the harsh instruction of experience , that it might bee some practising gold hopefully put to vse by a Forreigner with the expectation of interest from the commoditie of a sedition . Yet his Heroique disposition deales with his golden messenger , as with a temptation ; he ouercomes him by flight . For being prepared for recreation he gets to horse , leauing his Informer with a halfe-answere betweene suspition and neglect : shewing himselfe couetous of nothing , but of his innocent sport . Yet a wise iealousie accompanying his delight mooued him a little to retire , rather to finde out the treason , then the gold . And with the courage of innocencie bee sends for his traitour ; who with officious disloyalty attends his Souereigne ; and by a wild mixture shewes , that treason and sport are not incompatible . But this being ended , with most suspicious and vnmannerly importunity , hee mooues his Majestie to his new journey , without the respite of taking a fresh horse . He had before by a pretended necessitie of secrecie depriued him of counsaile , and now he would not willingly let him haue so much as a seruiceable beast . But the glory of deliuerance does not admit increase , but by increase of danger . His Majestie yeelds vnto his request and haste , when the man straight makes a new request . For obseruing the Nobles to follow with a faithful and inconuenient speed , hee desires , they should bee sent backe for a time , from this their dutie , and the mysterie : Gold was a Cordiall , that would raise appetite ; and his thrifty loue would haue the King haue it all . But here his wit was a litle too yong for his treason : desiring both too openly and speedily to disfurnish his Majestie of his Counsaile , his Horse , and his Attendance : who increasing by this , his suspicion with his danger , prouided himselfe of all three . Of all which notwithstanding hee was afterward againe disfurnished vpon intreatie ; which ought not to haue failed , least it had made lesse the wonder . When the High Priest's Officers that came to apprehend our Sauiour , were to be strucke downe backward , the Miracle did scorne the helpe & disgrace of a weapon . But his Majestie being as yet prouided thus , proceeds on ; his wisdome and suspicion making vp a censure vpon the man : whose visage was more beholding to nature , then to melancholy , which did disfigure it with varietie of passions . The wildnesse of his eye and tongue seemed to accuse him rather of distraction then treason , and without art to argue , that his displeased spirit had a lesse Enemy , then a King . A seuere brother might peraduenture by striuing to make him tame , make him wild , and as much raise his furie as depresse his delight . His Majestie was attended with this coniecture and the subiect of it : who does solicite him to such mysticall secrecie , as if he mistooke his owne Religion , and had reuealed it not to a King , but to a Priest . And being almost at the end of his journey , though not of his purpose , hee rides before with as much haste as care to prepare and accompany his brother ; with whom , that he might not faile on any side of dissimulation , bee quickly returnes to meet his Majestie . Who being entertained with some delay and excuse was feasted by a traitour without poyson . It was a rare dulnesse in one that had beene an Italian traueller ! But it seemes his Lordship was there so wholy employed in the study of the Magique Character , that he could not intend the drudgerie of poyson . But this great Politician being by his owne reciprocall plot sent out by the King to entertaine the guests ; the King is by his familiar traitour admonished of the opportunity as precious , as the gold . Wherefore onely with his attendance and direction hee passes through a Labyrinth of roomes , as intricate as the heart of a Villaine . All which , as they passed through , his attendant lockes with most accurate feare . At last they enter a small Study ; and this hee likewise lockes with equall jealousie . Oh , he would faine haue shut-out God and protection ! But can contraries rest long together ? Or can Majestie bee so patient of treason ? The Cloud must breake , and the battell of the Thunder must bee reported . Thus long you haue beheld the man ; but now you shall see the violence of the man . And that you may behold the contexture of his treason , now yee shall see the prisoner that hee promised , changed into an Executioner . You shall see a man and a Dagger ; weapon enough to make a traitour ; and yet you shall behold him almost made innocent by feare . But with as much , though a better feare , you will behold the violent man : who now changes his countenance , when he should change his heart ; and increases his treason , by laying aside a great part of it , dissimulation . He now couers his head , when hee deserues rather to lose it ; and shewes it to want as much wit , as Loyalty , that did not vnderstand , in what presence it was . After hee had arm'd himselfe thus with his haste and irreuerence , he spoiles his seruant of his dagger , who would as willingly haue beene rid of his master , as of his weapon : which when he has , ( see a danger fit for a deliuerance ! ) he holds the point of it to the brest of his King ; when the point of his conscience ought to haue wounded his owne brest . And now , alas , the weaknesse of furie ! What can thy violence doe now , O violent man ? Thinkest thou by thy wilde hand to moue the fixt purpose of the Almighty ? Thinkest thou by thy rashnesse to frustrate the diuine deliberations of our wisest Henry ? Thinkest thou by thy folly to confound the greatest heire of his wisedome , in whom was to be accomplished the marriage and glory of two Nations ? Alas , vaine hand , that was no more able to change the Successour , then the succcession ! But you shall see what he does , or rather heare , what he sayes . His furie beginnes already to faint into words ; yet so execrable , as if he would change his treason into blasphemy , and now threaten God in stead of the King ; who must not vpon paine of death open a window , or but his lips to proclaime the traitour . O the peruerse folly of villany , that would giue Lawes to the Law-giuer , and make Maiesty as dumbe , as Treason ought to be ! But see more folly yet ! This traitour would change himselfe into a judge , and seeme as just as hee is ridiculous . Hee will not haue him die without sentence ; and yet he will sentence him without witnesse : and so at once accuses him , and pronounces him guiltie of the death of his father . Hee had before violated his Majestie , but now his innocencie . But , O now , to see the power of a King armed with God! Hee tries if hee can tame his fury into sleepe by awaking his conscience ; or else to make the point of his Dagger as dull as this . He tels him of the violent eloquence of bloud ; which will crie out as loud as conscience : He tels him of the necessary inheritance of reuenge ; which will as certainly find an heire , as his Crowne : He prooues himselfe innocent from the execution of his father by the most innocent argument of Law and Nature ; it being done by publike act , which may erre ignorantly , but neuer boldly ; and at that age , which had not mann'd him to the exercise of his right ; so that hee was then more his King , then his judge : Hee cals to mind his religion , which might moue some feare : He vnwillingly repeates some fauours , which might moue loue , Hee offers secrecie and pardon , which might raise his hope : When behold a tame Traitour ! His body has forgot the bargaine of his minde , and beginnes againe to vncouer the head ; as if hee would confesse his vnderstanding were conuinced . But it had beene happy if this loyalty had descended from his head to his heart . And yet he vowes , hee will not bee such an execrable Traitour as hee thought to haue beene : now hee will vouchsafe not to murder him . You see the degrees of amendement ; hee seemes alreadie to haue reformed his head and his hand . But hee will not as yet leaue off to be King ; wherefore leauing his Majesty confin'd to silence and expectation , he does appoint him , whom first hee appointed to kill him , now to keepe him . Out hee goes , and lockes them vp together ; perchance to make good his first story of the man imprisoned with a great treasure ; though rather the true prisoner was the treasure . And can any man imagine now , that in this denne of treason a King should find reuerence , where his Majesty had no guard but his innocence ; nor any subiect but a traitour ? Yet , behold this traitour tremble-downe vpon his knees : He had no other way , but this descent of posture , to make the King seeme to bee in a Throne . Prostrate thus hee pleades more for his owne innocence , then for the King's Pardon , protesting himselfe not to know , for what intent he was put there . He had sworne a truth , though hee had not sworne truly ; For though hee had knowne , for what purpose his master put him there : yet he litle knew , for what purpose god put him there : which was , without violence to confound violence ; and by a dutifull feare to correct & amaze his master . Who speedily returning from his brother with a double fury is vexed with the danger & delay of opening the doore . O how he could haue wished here for our Sauiour's Miracle , to haue entred now the doore being shut ! But being entred , his fury is so forward , that hee forgets to shut the doore , which hee feared to open . Now he comes no more to giue sentence , but to execute it ; and to beginne , offers to bind his Royall hands . But the violent man mistooke the degree of the execution ; This was not to beginne it , but ouer-act it : To bind a King , is to murder Majesty . Which his high Majesty as highly conceiuing , armes himselfe with the magnanimitie of innocence and indignation ; and scorning the Traitour as much as death and bondage , grapples with them all . When be hold the earnest Villaine beeing about to mis-vse his hand to his sword , the right hand of the King forceably instructs both his hand and his sword to a better deliberation , his left hand arresting him by the throate : When the violent man , like the Deuill ( that sometimes imitates God ) practises and enlarges the imitation of the King , clasping him so with his left hand by the throate , that part of his fingers did violate his sacred mouth . He would by no meanes haue God heare the voyce of the King : hee was himselfe afraid now to heare the voice of the King : But that which should haue beene his least feare , was his greatest ; Hee was more afraid of some loyall subiect , then either of God , or the King . Who dragging him from his more retired and guiltie side of the roome , presented part of his Majesty at the window . His Keeper had obediently prepared him this libertie of aire , and now he recouers the like liberty of voyce , proclayming the treason , though not the traitour . The Nobles were by this time both feasted and deluded : for missing the King , it was as hard to find direction to find him , as to find him ; the elder traitour , as if hee would adde Magique to his treason , causing them to wander in the errour of his circle . And indeed it proued an errour more to himselfe , then to them ; who finde the King , by going the wrong way to find him , by going astray vnder this window . This was the neerest way to his voyce , though not to his person : to which they now doe likewise seeke the neerest way with diuided haste . The most goe the most knowne way , and erre againe ; not because it was not the right way , but because it was not the readie way ; the doore beeing lock'd with a double key , the one of treason , the other of Diuine Prouidence , which would thus increase the glory of the deliuerance . Which seeming to come slowly , the King striues to meete it , drawing the violent traitour out of the dungeon of the studie to execution . And first to get this stiffe-necked man vnder the yoke of subjection , hee gets his violent head vnder his arme ; then to make him crie God and his King mercy , he victoriously brings him vpon his knees ; and that hee might still presse neerer to deliuerance , hee driues this peruerse man backeward to destruction ; and being about to execute him himselfe with the traitours owne sword , ( that hee might perish by his owne sinne and weapon ) behold a more easie deliuerance and judgement come in the faithfull and happy hand of immortall Ramsay ; by whose repeated strokes his treason fainting-out with his bloud , hee is no longer the combatant , but the scorne of a King : who taking him by the shoulder dishonours him head-long downe the staires ; vpon which he is receiued with new wounds ; as if after punishment for his treason , they would make him suffer a second death for his furie , and in one brother execute both the traitours . And thus you see , tempted justice can bee as violent as violence ; and make treason as accursed in the successe as it is in the guilt . Behold the King in safetie alreadie ; and are not wee alreadie in a Psalme ? No , wee must stay a little ; wee haue the cause of joy ; but not as yet the leisure of it . For by the same by-way that deliuerance came in , behold new furie marches in , as fierce as despaire , or its owne last agonie . Behold Gowry entring with a drawne sword in each hand ; as if the mad-man would haue lent one to his brothers furie : Vpon his head he has a steele bonnet , belike to defend the fine plot that was in it . His attendants were seuen , a number here as execrable , as else-where mysticall ; euery one has one drawne sword , and is as much as halfe his leader ; who with the preface of death and blasphemie enters the presence of a King : when the King , that had no weapon but his courage , is by the faithfull violence of his few seruants shut-backe into the little study ; which , to purchase pardon for its former guilt , that it might not be ruin'd with its master , is reformed into a place of as vnexpected deliuerance , as it was of danger . And these few Protectors with valour equall to their necessitie , receiuing many traitours and wounds did by rare victory Chastize them to example , the compendious hand of happy Ramsay striking Gowry and the Treason through the heart . You see what God has done for his anointed ; now heare what his anointed does for him . And you will meruaile at the Royall wit of his pietie : which makes God's blessing the thankes for it selfe . God blessed him highly , when hee first anointed him : and when hee deliuered him , did he not anoint him againe ? Yes , now he is anointed with an oyle of gladnesse ; and this gladnesse is the thankes for the anointing . Behold what hee does : Hauing collected himselfe and his dispersed Nobles , he falls on his knees , paying his thankes vnto God with that body , which he had preserued ; and in that mindfull manner of humilitie , to which by diuine helpe hee had forc'd his enemy . And now encircled by his Seruants with loyalty and joy , he is the first Euangelist of his owne deliuerance ; as willingly professing the miracle as the victory . The King giues thanks , and God is both his argument and his auditor ; He lead him about , he instructed him , hee kept him as the apple of his eye . As an Eagle stirres vp the nest , flutters ouer her young , spreades abroad her wings , takes them , beares them on her wings : so the Lord alone did lead him , and there was no strange God with him . And now let the blasphemous Stoicke predestinate God , vngratefully abusing his ftee mercie by the bondage of Fate . Let the Epicure conceiue a Prouidence more delicate then his owne fansie , and with ridiculous impietie busie himselfe about his lazie God , who lyes retired from the prospect and fable of the world . Let the patrones of treason with impotent malice still deny this treason , and bee guiltie of it . Let them for euer enuie , and increase our joy . Let them be angry with God's mercy and his King : And thy King , O Lord , shall prooue his deliuerance by his thankfulnesse ; and thy King , O Lord , shall prooue the integritie of his thankfulnesse by thy jealousie ; and thy King , O Lord , shall prooue himselfe safe from thy angry jealousie by the continuance of thy mercy . Heare an argument as hard to be deluded as the Almighty . The jealous God has since deliuered his anointed from the admirable danger of the Powder-treason ; therefore hee does delight in the gratefull institution of this dayes vnfained thankfulnesse . And this thankfulnesse shall be told , no doubt , in time vnto the Heathen , vnto our Heathen , who are ordained to conuersion and this joy by the instruction of our Virginian Apostles . And we ought to rejoyce with a great joy , as confident as the fury of this treason . And wee ought to vnderstand the greatnesse of this joy , without which wee had heard no more noyse of the Powder-plot , then by rare mercy we did of the Powder . Besides here the Dagger was at the breast of a King , and there was bloud-shed in this wonderfull deliuerance ; but in that , though most wonderfull , the Powder did not desperately betray it selfe into a flame . And we ought not to leaue out our thankes and honour vnto him , whom God's choice brought-in as the honorable instrument of this deliuerance . But what monument shall we prouide for him ? Should we lay-vp his sword , like the sword of Goliah ? Alas , that were to preserue rust as well as fame . Should we erect a Statue ? Why , that will proue as mortall as his body . Sure then , we will fasten this labell to the mouth of fame , wheresoeuer the Gospell of the deliuerance from Gowry shall bee preached in the whole world , there shall also this , that Ramsay has done , be told for a memoriall of him . And for our Lord the King , what glory shall wee giue vnto him ? Surely , wee must acknowledge him the friend of God , the fauovrite of the Almighty ; whom God has reserued as the great example , wherewith hee will instruct this later World ! Whom hee has proposed as the proofe and subject of his Almightie mercie ! Whom he preserued for the vniting of the Britainies , a worke that required no lesse preface then this Miracle ! Wee haue heard the lamentations of our neighbours , the bloud of whose King was suffered to bee shed like their teares ; whiles we haue enjoyed our King and our selues ! Happy art thou , O Israel ; who is like vnto thee , O people ? saued by the Lord , the shield of thy helpe , and who is the sword of thy excellency . The King liues , and his people must reioyce ! and euery street must professe the flaming embleme of this affection ! and the loudest musique of our Temples must recompence their inarticulate thankes by repetition ! The King liues and his people must rejoyce : Awake Psalterie and Harpe ; awake , Deborah , awake , vtter a Song : Arise , Barak , and lead thy captiuity captiue . The King liues , and we must rejoyce . His God did not let his enemie exact vpon him ; nor the sonne of wickednesse afflict him : But has exalted his horne like the horne of an Vnicorne ; he has anointed him with fresh oyle . His enemie bowed at his feet , he fell , hee lay downe ; at his feet he bowed , he fell ; where he bowed , there he fell downe destroyed . The friends of Gowrie whispered among themselues , why is he so long in comming ? Why is the report of his triumph so slow ? His wise Counsailours answered , yea , their feare returned answere to them ; Haue they not killed ? Haue they not diuided to euery man a Prouince ? To Gowrie a Crowne set with royall Diamonds ; with royall Diamonds set with curious worke , to bee fitted for the brow of him that takes the spoile ? So let all the enemies of the King perish , O Lord ! and let the treason of this day bee the triumph and instruction of our Nephewes ! And let the deliuerance of this day bee made as glorious as the Conspiracie was secret ! To the God of this day , the God of our Dauid bee ascribed the joy and glorie of this day .